512 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



(IJaird, 1858), and the rest coming under Centrophntufi (Kauj)). The cliar- 

 acters upon which these are billed tire very trivial, lieiiig mainly the varying 

 degree of si/e of tlie hill and lengtli of tli(! liind daw. In tliis latter respect 

 there is too much individual variation in the same s])ecies to admit of this 

 being available as a specitic, much less as a subgeneric character, while the 

 size of the bill is uot of more than specific importance. 



Flectrophanes nivalis, Mkykr. 



SKOW-BtrilTINO. 



Emhtrha nii-nlis, Lixs. Syst. Niit. I, 17C(i, 308 (not Frini/i!fa in'rnli.i, \,A. — FoiisTF.r,, 

 riiilii. TiaiiH. LXIl, 177-J, 403. — Wii.sdx, Am. Urn. Ill, 1.^11, HO, jil. xxi. — Aru. 

 Oni. Itioi,'. II, 1S3J, 575; V, ]83it, 4iMi, pi. lS!i. Kuiiicrhii {I'/ie/nijilxiiw.t) nivnlis, 

 15oN. ()l)s. 182,'>, No. 8i». " Pkclroplui MS nivnlis, Mkyki:." — I'.o.n. !,ist, 1838. — Arn. 

 Syii. 1S3U, 103. — 111. Biid.s Am. Ill, 1841, 55, pi. 15.-). — M.\x. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 345 

 (Si.itzlifigcii). — lUiiiD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 432. — Newton, IWs, 1805, 502. — Dai.l 

 k Hanxisteh, Tr. CIi. A. S. I, 1S(UI, 282 (Alaska). — Cooi-eu, Oni. Cal. I, 177.— 

 Samuels, 296. Embcrim monknut, (!.mi;i.in, Syst. 1, 1788, 8(37, 25. Embcri^a music- 

 linn, Omei.in, Syst. I, 1788, 807, 7. Einbiriz(iij/((ciiilis, L.viilA.M, liul. Oiii. 1, 17!)0, 398. 



Sp. Ciiah. Afdlc Coldi's. in spi-iiiir pluiniitjo, ciitiivly black iiiiil white. Middle of back 

 between .scapulars, terminal half of primaries and teitiaiie.s, and two innermost tail- 

 fcalliers, black ; elscwlier(i pure white. Legs l)lack at all .seasons. In winter dres.s white 

 beneath; the head and rnmp yellowi.sh-brown, as also some blotches on the side of the 

 breast; middle of liack brown, streaked with black; while on winf;s and tail much more 

 restricted. Length about 0.7."); wing.s, 4.;!;-); tail, .'!.l),-); Hrst quill long(!st. Female, 

 Spring, contiiuioiis white beneath only; above entirely streaked, the feathers having 

 blai.'kisli eentre.s ar a whitish edges; the black streak.s prcilominate on the back and 

 crown. YoviKj. Light gray above with ol)soleto dusky streaks on the back; throat and 

 juguhnii |)alcr gray, the latter with ob.solete streaks; rest of lower parts dull white. 

 \Ving-eovert.s, secondaries, and tail-feathers broadly ctlged with light ochracoous-brown. 



IIam. Northern America from Atlantic to Paeilic ; south into the United States in 

 winter, as far as Georgia and Southern Illinois. 



S])ecimens from North America and Europe ajipear to be (|uite idciutical ; 

 there is, however, a great amount of vnrialion iimong individuals. 



Haiuts. The connnon Snow liunting is found throughout northern North 

 Americii to the shores of the Arctic Seti, and in the winter months extends 

 its migrations into the United States as indicated aliove. 



Mr. J)all states that in Alaska, when observed, they went altogether in 

 flocks. It was at times excessively common, iuul at others entirely absent. 

 It builds its nests on the hillside, generally on the ground, under the lee of 

 a stone, lie obtained a large inimber of these birds at Nulalo, in the winter 

 of l.S()7 - OS. It was much more common there than the /'. /iipjionicKs, which 

 wiis only seen in the s])ring, while this bird was there all the year round. ]\Ir. 

 Dall also met with these liirds on St. (ieoigtj's Island, tind Mr. iiischolf ob- 

 tained them at Sitka. According to Mr. Bannister's observiitions it was 

 altogether less abundant than the J'. iKpiiunuiia, and seemed to prefer rather 



