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THE SNOW BUNTING 



Emberiza nivalis, Linn. 



PLATE CLXXXIX. Adult and Young. 



As soon as the cold blasts of wintei* have stiffened the earth's surface, 

 and brought with them the first snow-clouds, millions of these birds, 

 driven before the pitiless storm, make their way towards milder climes. 

 Their wings seem scarcely able to support their exhausted, nay almost 

 congealed bodies, which seem little larger than the great feathery flakes 

 of the substance from which these delicate creatures have borrowed their 

 name. In compressed squadrons they are seen anxiously engaged in at- 

 tempting to overcome the difficulties which beset them amid their perilous 

 adventures. They now glide low over the earth, relax the closeness of 

 their phalanx, and with amazing swiftness sweep over the country in 

 search of that food, Avithout which they must all shortly perish. Dis- 

 appointed in their endeavours, the travellers again ascend, close their files, 

 and continue their journey. At last, when nearly exhausted by fatigue 

 and hunger, some leader espies the wished-for land, not yet buried in 

 snow. Joyful notes are heard from the famished voyagers, while with 

 relaxed flight, and wings and tail expanded, they float as it were in broad 

 circles, towards the spot where they are to find relief. They alight, dis- 

 perse, run nimbly in masses from the foot of one corn stalk to the next, 

 scratch the ground here, pick up a dormant insect there, or nibble the 

 small seeds of the withered grass, mixing them with a portion of gravel. 

 Now two meet, and contend for the scanty morsel ; the weaker gives way, 

 for hunger, it seems, acts on birds as on other beings, rendering them sel- 

 fish and unfeeling. 



The Snow Birds enter the eastern portions of the Union sometimes early 

 in November, and remain in such parts as suit them best until the montli 

 of March. They now and then alight on trees, frequently on fences, and 

 sometimes on the roofs of low buildings, in such compact bodies or con- 

 tinued lines, as to render it easy for the sportsman who may be inclined 

 to shoot them, to procure a great number at once. 



This species, while in the United States, never enters the woods, but 

 pi-efers either the barreny portions of our elevated table-lands, or the vi- 



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