THE SNOW-BUNTING. 35 



as they are naturally mountain birds, they are found in the 

 mainland rather than in the isles. That dreary ridge of 

 mountains which extends from the end of Caithness to Cape 

 Rath, and which almost seems too cold and sterile for heath 

 and bog-myrtle, is the place to look for them ; and any one 

 who had the hardihood to summer and winter upon its bleak 

 north side, would, duly employed, find something to add to 

 the Ornithology of our ultima Thule. He might make sure 

 of the nest of the snow-bunting and the snowy-owl, and he 

 might search the crags for the jer-falcon's nest ; and the few 

 low sandy tracts at the heads of the little wild creeks, for 

 that of the turnstone ; and if he should (as who does not 

 when safe upon the trusty rock ?) love to look upon the deep 

 in storms, he would have ample scope for knowing how sub- 

 limely the angry north can thunder ; or again, how soundly 

 the arctic tide can sleep, arid how gaily it can glitter, at that 

 season when its night is more illuminated than noon in the 

 southern fogs. 



In nesting time, the snow-buntings are very solitary and 

 retired. Their nests are in the clefts of inland rocks, con- 

 structed of grass and feathers, and lined with down, or with 

 the fur of the arctic fox or the northern hare. The eggs do 

 not exceed five ; they are nearly spherical, with reddish 

 white grounds, and lines and dots of reddish brown. They 

 do not breed in inhabited or even in habitable places ; and 

 they breed late. The male, which, though a feeble songster, 

 is a much more pleasing one than any other of the buntings, 

 begins his song about the middle or towards the end of 

 May j and he continues it till the latter part of July. His 

 note of invitation is pleasant ; but that of alarm is harsh 

 and shrill, and rings among the crags. In the breeding-time 

 the birds are very industrious, resting little in the night, 

 and the male takes his turn in the incubation. They rao 



