230 TREATISE ON 



middle with dark umber-brown ; primary-quills 

 edged witli very pale wood-brown ; outer edge of 

 the outer feathers of the tail, snow-white; legs 

 and feet dull yellowish-brown. 



Before quitting the buntings, we may here 

 mention the snow-flake, snow-bunting, or emhe- 

 riza nivalis, as it is said by some authors to sing 

 delightfully in its summer haunts, which are in 

 high northern latitudes, as Spitzbergen, Lapland, 

 Hudson's Bay, &c. It visits us only in winter, 

 and retm-ns northward in spring to breed; so 

 that its song is never heard in this country. But, 

 as it is said to be such a charming songster, it 

 would be worth while to try the experiment. 

 They could be easily caught, as they frequent the 

 northern parts of our island, during winter, in vast 

 flocks. This bird never perches, but runs on the 

 ground like a lark, and, like that bird, its hind 

 claw is very long. The nest is placed in the cre- 

 vices of rocks, and formed of diied grass, lined 

 with feathers and the down of the arctick fox. 

 The eggs, four or five in number, are bluish- 

 white, spotted with umber-brown. Bewick says, 

 these birds " sing sweetly, sitting on the ground." 

 " On their first arrival in this country they are 

 very lean, but soon grow fat. The Highlands of 



