SNOW FINCH. 35 



parts only when driven by storms; and in the spring of the year it is 

 found in the higher alpine valleys. In summer it still prefers the most 

 desolate places, where it is seldom disturbed by its enemy, man; such 

 as the Usfernthal, the desert regions of the Gumsel and the Simplon, 

 atid in the neighbourhood of the convent of St. Bernard, where it is 

 found all the year. 



Salvadori (Fauna d'ltalia) writes, " Fringilla nivalis remains stationary, 

 and nests on the summits of the Alps and the Apennines, from which 

 it descends in winter to the borders, but never into the plains. It has 

 not been observed in Sicily, Sardinia, nor Malta. Upon the Apennines 

 I do not know that it has ever been seen lower than central Italy, 

 where I have found it upon the mountains of Ascolano, (Ibis, 1864, 

 p, 128,) and Tristam on the Apennines between Bologna and Tuscany, 

 (Ibis, 1863, p. 362.)" 



According to Savi, the inhabitants of the houses on the summit of 

 Monceniso must capture many of these birds which fly in their neigh- 

 bourhood, and pick up the fallen grain from the roads, having in 

 fact all the habits of the Common Sparrow. In the mountains of 

 Ascolano, on the contrary, they live in desert places. They nest 

 among fissures of the rocks as well as the holes of the houses. The 

 eggs, in number from four to five, are of a pallid green colour, with 

 a rosy very indistinct spot. (The colour is white, each end being 

 more or less pointed, and the very few rosy spots now and then 

 observed are distinct enough, but far between. — C. K. B.) 



Doderlein (op. cit.) says that this bird only occurs in Modena during 

 severe winters, and then only accidentally. It has never occurred to 

 his knowledge in Sicily. 



Naumann says that the Swiss naturalists consider there are two 

 species or permanent varieties, one living always in the Swiss moun- 

 tains, the other in the south of Germany; but he does not agree with 

 this opinion, considering the idea has originated in the well-known 

 migratory habits of the bird. 



The Snow Finch lives during summer, and in a great part of the 

 year where no trees grow; it is therefore seen on the ground, stones, 

 and walls or roofs of buildings. It is a cheerful, restless, and vigorous 

 bird, resembling in its habits the Mountain Finch and Chaffinch, and 

 like them it runs and hops on the ground, and has a similar flight, 

 in which its beautiful plumage is well displayed. It is generally con- 

 sidered a very shy bird, but the Swiss naturalists say that in their 

 mountains it is less wild, though ever cautious. It is sociable with its 

 kind, and is seldom seen alone, except during the breeding-season. 

 When startled, it flies up high in the air, and seems to go far away, 



