BUNTINGS. 



407 



mounds or tussocks abounding on the marshy parts of the tundra, and is composed 

 of dry grass and roots, and profusely lined with feathers. The eggs vary from 

 pale grey to pale brown in ground-colour, and are streaked with dark brown with 

 underlying blotches of brown. Nests of this species found in Norway were built 

 of dry grass and lined with feathers ; one in particular being lined with the 

 feathers of a snipe, and thus having an unusually pretty appearance. The newly- 

 hatched young are said to be clothed with dark down. The song of this bunting, 

 which is sweet and musical, is usually poured forth when the bird is in the air, 



LAPLAND BUNTING (f nat. size). 



soaring like a lark, and is continued until it alights on some grassy knoll or 

 stunted bush. Oddly enough, the female has almost as rich a song as the male. 

 Formerly the Lapland bunting rarely straggled so far westwards as the British 

 Isles during its autumnal migration, but nowadays it not only breeds nearer than 

 it used to do, but small numbers of this bird visit the southern shores of Great 

 Britain yearly. Before 1892 the Lapland bunting had been captured most 

 frequently in Kent, more particularly near Dover; but in the autumn of that 

 year great numbers visited Eastern and Southern England ; the first arrivals being 

 observed in Norfolk during September, and these being soon after followed by 

 large flocks. Numbers were also obtained during the winter of 1892-3 on the 

 downs near Brighton ; and the species has occurred in equal abundance in 

 Northumberland. Lapland buntings, according to Mr. Gurney, become tame 



