514 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



visited Iceland in 18l?7, Ibund the Snowbird Ineoding there in June. He 

 found their ne.sts placed among Lirge .stoncss or in the fissures of rocks, com- 

 posed of dry grass lined with liaii" and feathers. Tlie eggs were I'rom four 

 to six in iiumher. Tiie male attends the female during incubation. Mr. 

 Proctor states that he has seen this bird, wiien coming fnjni the nest, rise u]i 

 in the air and sing sweetly, with its wings and tail spread in tlie manner of 

 the Tree Pipit. Linnaeus, in !)is Tour in Lapland, mentions seeing these birds 

 in that country about the end of May, and also in 'luly. He also mentions 

 that this bird is tho only living thing that has been .seen two thousand feet 

 above the line of perpetual snow in the Lapland Alps. This bird also breeds 

 on the B'aroe Lslands. Mr. Hewitson found its nest in Norway. It contained 

 young, and was built under some loose stones. Young birds have also been 

 noticed early in August among the Grampiims, in Scothuul, rendering it prob- 

 able that they breed in that locality, and perhaps in considerable numbers. 

 As the severity of winter increases, they leave the heaths where tiiey have 

 fed upon the seeds of gra,sses, and descend to the lowlands, frequenting the 

 oat-stubbles, and, when the snow is deep, approaching the coast. Their call- 

 note is pleasing, and is often repeated during their flight, which they make 

 in a very compact body. Bt'fore settling on the ground they make sudden 

 wheels, coming almost into collision with each other, uttering at tiie same 

 time a ]ieculiar guttural note. They run on the giound witli all the ea.se of 

 Larks, and rarely perch. Temminck states that they are very abundant in 

 winter along the sea-coast of Holland. 



Their apjiearance in Massachu.setts is usually with the first Iwavy falls of 

 snow, in December and January. They are most abundant in the open 

 places near the sea-coast, and formerly were \cry numerous in tlu; marshes 

 between Boston and IJrooldine. A wounded male in full adult plumage was 

 taken by me, in 18;>8, and kept .some time in confmenient. It would not 

 accustom itself to a cage, and a large box was prej)ared in which it could 

 run more iit large. It fed readily on grain and cracked corn, delighted to 

 bathe itself several times in the day, liut would not lie reconciled to my near 

 presence. On my a]i])roach it would rush about its prison, uttering its 

 peculiar call-notes, blending with thorn a hnid guttural cry of alarm. As the 

 spring approached, it warbled occasionally a few notes, but uttered from time 

 to time such mournl'ul cries, as if bewailing its cajjfivity, that it would have 

 been released, had its crippled condition jiormitfed it to take can- of itself 

 It was given in charge of a friend, but did not live through the heat of the 

 ensuing sunnner. 



It is stated that a nest of this bird was found among the White IVIoun- 

 tains by Mr. Kirk Poott, of Hoston, in the summer of l.S.'U. It contained 

 young birds. Tins, if the identification was correct, was ])robably an acci- 

 dental occurrence. None iiave betMi noticed there since, nor have I ever been 

 able to find any of the ])erinanont residents among tlie mountains that have 

 met with these birds in that riigiou, except in winter. 



