130 BRITISH BIRDS WITH THEIR NESTS AND Eccs. 
from a very large number at that time frequenting the Corton beach, attained very 
nearly their full summer plumage, their beaks also, which are yellow in winter, 
assuming a dark leaden tint. Both these birds, unfortunately, suffered from a 
diseased state of the feet, which were painfully swollen, and the scutella on the 
anterior portion of the tarsi and toes were greatly enlarged and ragged. With 
this exception, they lived in apparently good health till the autumn of 1863, when 
the female wasted away and died, and the male survived his partner only a few 
weeks.” 
It is certain that the Snow-Bunting ought not to be restricted to a cage, 
unless it be a very large one: half the charm of this beautiful species consists in 
seeing it fly: moreover it is only to be expected that a bird accustomed to wander 
over some of the wildest regions of the earth and sea, should feel stunned and 
miserable when confined within narrow limits and constantly subjected to inspection 
in a stuffy room. An out-door aviary would be the most suitable home for it, and 
the larger the better. Swaysland indeed states that ‘‘as it is a somewhat dull 
bird, it is not desirable for either cage or aviary,” and others have told me that 
it makes a stupid cage-bird; but Swaysland gives no details; indeed his account 
of the species inclines one to the belief that he is not speaking from personal 
experience: in any case its song should atone for everything, for Captain H. W. 
Fielden (P. Z. S., 1877, p. 30) in a paper on the Birds of the North Polar Basin, 
says :—‘‘On the 13th May, 1876, I heard the first Snow-Bunting (Plectrophanes 
nivalis) as we lay in our tent on the floe at the base of a cliff. The note came 
from above, clear and musical, and each inmate of the tent started into a sitting 
posture, and said ‘ Hush, hush, do you hear it?’ One of the sailors said to me, 
‘What bird is that, sir? it is sweeter than a throstle.’ ”’ 
