THE ZOOLOGIST. 
THIRD SERIES. 
Vou. V.] JANUARY, 1881. [No. 49. 
woe ae on aA Ber Ss AND MIrGH A TRON Or 
The Snow BUNTING. 
By Joun ConDraux. 
Tue plate which illustrates this paper, drawn and kindly 
contributed by Mr. Charles Whymper, represents the nest and 
eggs of the Snow Bunting, and is a relic of the adventurous 
journey undertaken by his brother, Mr. Edward Whymper, who 
in the spring and summer of 1874 endeavoured to explore some 
portion of Greenland, with the hope of determining the character 
of the interior of that ice-burdened land. 
Professor Newton, in his admirable and concise notice of this 
species (Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ 4th edition, vol. ii., pp. 1—14), 
thus describes the nest:—‘‘A rude collection of dry grass, 
moss or any other plants that may be growing near, forms 
the foundation and outworks of the nest. This is hollowed out 
to receive a quantity of finer grass and roots substantially woven 
into a bowl, which will occasionally bear removal from the outer 
mass without losing its shape, and is lined with hair or soft 
feathers—especially those of the Ptarmigan of the country. Herein 
are laid the eggs, from four to six or even eight in number, 
measuring from ‘91 to ‘82 by from ‘65 to ‘57 in. They are 
white, more or less tinged with pale greenish blue, on which are 
patches of lilac, sometimes very bright, but generally dull, the 
whole closely or sparingly spotted, streaked and splashed with deep 
brownish red, upon which again are frequently a few apparently 
black spots and irregular lines. Some eggs when fresh are of 
exceeding and almost indescribable beauty.” 
B 
