Birds of Massachusetts. 149 
tree. They pass the night on the earth, in small 
parties, near tufts of dry grass. When they are 
alarmed, all take wing, and, after flying round for a 
short time, return to the same place again. 
- Audubon describes the nest of this bird, which he 
found in the moss at Labrador, and tells us that the 
song of the male at that season is very sweet. 
The Snow Buntine, Emberiza nivalis. As soon 
as winter reigns, “sole monarch of the inverted 
year,” these birds come, riding on the snow-storms, ~ 
and are seen in parties sweeping over the desolate 
country. Sometimes they alight on trees, some- 
times on fences, and are even familiar enough to 
take their station at times upon the roofs of houses. 
Till they are persecuted for the sake of their flesh, 
they are disposed to be on the best possible terms 
with man; but as they are considered the harbingers 
of very severe weather, they meet but a cold wel- 
come. Their flight is swift, and well sustained ; 
they seem to enjoy the fierce and angry winds; but 
careless of cold as they are, and apparently well 
protected, they are sometimes so chilled as to be 
unable to escape from those who pursue them. In 
Labrador, where they are called White Birds, they 
feed on seeds and insects, but while here, they must 
depend for their subsistence almost entirely on seeds. 
For this purpose they often alight on trees, but are 
seldom seen in the woods. Like the larks, they live 
much on the ground. 
The summer dress of the snow bunting is pure 
white and black; but they are not seen with this 
