EMBERIZnXE. 159 



The term " Snow Flake" lias also been applied to 

 this bird, to show the propriety of which name, 

 Dr. Saxby, writing from Shetland, where these birds 

 are numerous, gives the following description : 

 " Seen against a dark hill- side or a lowering sky, a 

 flock of these birds presents an exceedingly beauti- 

 ful appearance : it may then be seen how aptly the 

 term * Snow Flake ' has been applied to the species. 

 I am acquainted with no more pleasing combination 

 of sight and sound than that afforded when a number 

 of these birds, backed by a dark grey sky, drop, as 

 it were, in a shower to the ground, to the music of 

 their own sweet tinkling notes."* 



The following descriptions of the Snow Bunting 

 are taken from the two shot by myself at Exmouth 

 in April, and also from one shot at the same place 

 in the autumn : the beak is lightish yellow, except 

 the tip and upper part of the upper and the tip of 

 the lower mandible, which is dark horn-colour; 

 hides hazel : there is a streak of rusty brown from 

 the base of the upper mandible to the top of the 

 head, broader on the top of the head ; on each side 

 of the brown is a streak of white over the eye ; back 

 of the head and nape speckled black and white, with 

 a very slight tinge of rusty brown left here and 

 there ; a streak of very light brown from the side of 

 the beak to and under the eye, reaching to the ear- 



* ' Zoologist' for 1865, p. 9485. 



P2 



