SNOW BUNTING. 323 



Genus PLECTROPHANES. Meyer. 



Bill variable, blunted ; lower mandible higher and wider at base than upper. Wings 

 one-half longer than the nearly even tail, reaching nearly to its tip. First quill as long 

 as the second. Tarsi longer than middle toe. Hind claw very long and acute, longer 

 than its digit, less carved than the middle claw. Lateral toes equal. 



PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS (L.) Meyer. 



Snow Bunting. 



Emleriza nivalis, Addhbon, Orn. Biog., ii, 1834, 515.-~Kirtland, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 

 183'^, 164, 183 — RBiD, Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci., vi, 1835, 395. 



Plectroplianes nivalis, Audubon, B. Am., iii, lti61, 56.— Baird, P. E E. Eep., ix, 1858, 438. 

 WnEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for l!:60, 1861, 366; Reprint, 8; Food of Birds, etc., Ohio 

 Agric. Eep. for 1B74, 1875, 566; Reprint, f.— CoUES, Birds of N. W., 1874, 118.— 

 Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1677, 6; Revised List, Journ. Gin. Soo. Nat. Hist., i, 

 1879, 175 ; Reprint, 9. 



White Snow Bird, Kirtland, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 63, 72, 120, 148 ; Ohio Farmer, ix, 

 1860, 91. 



Emberiza nivalis, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 303. 

 Plectrophanes nivalis, Meyer. 



Bill small, truly conic, ruffed at base; hind claw decidedly curved. In breeding 

 plumage pure white, the back, wings and tail variegated with black; bill and feet black. 

 As generally "feen in the United States, the white is clouded with warm, clear brown, 

 and the bill is brownish. Length, about 7 ; wing, 4^ ; tail, Sf. 



Habitat, Arctic America and Greenland, and corresponding latitudes in the Old World. 

 Irregularly southward in winter in the United States to about 35°. 



Irregular winter visitor, common in Northern, rare in Middle and 

 Southern Ohio. Dr. Kirtland (Fam. Vis , April 18), speaking of the late- 

 ness of the spring of 1850, says : 



" Several species of winter birds seem to have known that winter was likely to linger 

 iu the lap of May. Within a few days large flocks of Red-polls have been flitting 

 about our fields, and the Whi;e Snow-bird has remained so late with us this season that 

 it has moulted here and appeared in its summer plumage — an occurrence never before 

 observed. We have never known them to continue here after the ice has left the Lake, 

 aud snow entirely disappeared." 



In this vicinity I have met them on but three occasions. A single 

 bird was found in April, 1863, whose departure had probably been delayed 

 by some accident. In February, 1874, a single individual was seen in 

 company with Shore Larks. In February, 1875, a flock of about two 

 hundred birds appeared during a severe snow storm. Mr Langdon says 

 it has not been seen in the vicinity of Cincinnati for several years. 



The Snow Bunting appears in the United States in roving flocks only 

 in severe cold weather. They appear to be more common near the coast 



