THE SNOW-BUNTING. 127 
Family—FRINGILLIDA. Subfamily—EMBERIZINA. 
THE SNow-BunTING. 
Plectrophenax nivalis, LINN.* 
CIRCUMPOLAR species, breeding chiefly in the Arctic regions beyond the 
limit of forest growth; or at high elevations further south, excepting in 
the Feroe Islands and Shetlands where it places its nest little above the sea- 
level. In winter it migrates southwards to Central Europe, South Russia, 
Turkestan, North China, Japan, and North America as far south as Georgia. It 
has been known to visit the Azores, Morocco, Malta; and is a rare, but regular, 
winter visitor to Italy. 
To Great Britain the Snow-Bunting is chiefly a winter visitor, generally 
reaching the eastern coast of England in October, though rarely in September, and 
commencing its return migration from March to April. Although rare in England 
and Ireland, this bird is decidedly commoner in Scotland, where a few pairs remain 
to breed: the first nest being obtained in the Shetlands by Saxby, on July and, 
1861. In July, 1886, Messrs. Peach and Hinaman found nest and young in 
Sutherlandshire, and in June, 1888, Mr. John Young discovered a nest with five 
eggs. I believe it has since been obtained by Mr. W. R. O. Grant. 
The adult male in breeding-plumage has the mantle, scapulars, inner second- 
aries, terminal half of primaries, four central tail-feathers and greater part of the 
next pair black; the outer webs edged with white; outer feathers mostly white; 
centre of lower back and rump black (with white edges to the feathers) but the 
sides white; remainder of plumage white: beak and feet leaden black; iris deep 
hazel. The female has all the black parts of the plumage greyer, and with pale 
edges to the feathers, the head and neck mottled with blackish. After the autumn 
moult the feathers of the upper surface, breast, and flanks are bordered with dull 
chestnut, which gradually changes to white during the winter, and the beak 
becomes orange-ochreous tipped with blackish. The young are greyish, with dark 
centres to most of the feathers, but the wings and tail resembling the autumn 
plumage of the adults. 
* For this bird the genus Plectrophanes, having been instituted for the Lapland Bunting, has been aban- 
doned. 
