26 Bird-Life in Labrador. 



they all were in a similar state of plumage at this time ; the 

 rump being quite light-colored and streaked ; the red a small, 

 restricted patch on the crown of the head ; the black a small 

 patch at the base of the bill, deepening as it approached the 

 bill. After the ground was fairly covered with snow I saw 

 them no more. I took a specimen in full-grown Summer plu- 

 mage, at the same place, July 20th. It breeds all along the 

 coast. 



SNOW BUNTING 



Plectrophanes nit-alls. (L.) MEY. 



" An ! Xow for a potpie ! " exclaimed my companion 

 smacking his lips, as a large nock of these birds swept by us, 

 one noon just after dinner and just as we were preparing to 

 stalk, Indian fashion, a huge white owl that sat like a dainty 

 snowcap upon the peak of a hill about half a mile away. 

 " Potpie be hanged ! " cried the leader of the party and pres- 

 ent writer, " while that old white owl sits blinking defiance 

 into our very gun barrels." But my companion's mouth had 

 tasted game and the old owl was laughing at us, for he sud- 

 denly spread his wings and flew off, leaving us nothing in view 

 but this same wave of down and brown feeding not far away 

 from us and just across the " tickle." This was in early Spring, 

 and on one of the outside islands. The birds had been more 

 or less common inland during the AVinter months, but gener- 

 ally singly or in twos and threes, flying wild or alighting on 

 the tall tree tops far out of gunshot. " They are as tame as 

 larks now," said my companion, "and we catch them in traps 

 and snares ; they make splendid potpies." So off we started 

 on this potpie hunt, and were soon rowing across the narrow 

 pass. In five minutes we were up with the buntings and had 

 begun the slaughter. There had been a light fall of snow the 

 night before, just enough to re-cover the ground, leaving only 

 the tops of the seed-bearing grasses above its surface. There, 

 in full sight, on the flats and open pasture grounds, this flock 



