226 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE SNOW BUNTING. 



SNOWFLAKE. 



(Emberiza Nivalis, Linn. Bruant de neigc, Temm.y 



LENGTH nearly seven inches. Bill and eyes 

 black; in summer the head, neck, coverts of the 

 wings, rump, and all the under parts of the body 

 are as white as snow, with a light tint of rusty 

 colour on the hinder part of the head; the back 

 and scapulars are black, fringed with white; the 

 bastard wings black; the lesser coverts and the 

 ends of the greater coverts white ; the prime quills 

 are black, secondaries white, with a black spot on 

 their inner webs ; middle feathers of the tail black, 

 the three outer ones white, with a dusky striped 

 spot near the ends, legs black. In winter it is 

 different; the head, neck, and under parts of the 

 body are marked with transverse waves of a rusty 

 colour, of various shades, but never so deep as in 



