366 NESTS AND EGOS OF 



534. SNOWFLAKE. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.) Geog. Dist.— Clrcumpolar 

 regions, except islands of Bering Sea; south in winter to Northern United States; ir- 

 regular to Georgia, Southern Illinois and Kansas. 



This beautiful, white bird breeds in the high Arctic regions, only visiting the 

 Northern United States in winter in large flocks. It is known as the Snow Bunting, 

 and is beautifully called a "warm-blooded Snowflake." Ma^y a dreary winter land- 

 scape i^ made a picturesque scene when thousands are seen in their flight drifting 

 ■before a storm. The nest of this bird is placed on the ground, and is often hidden 

 by a tussock of grass or rock; it is built of grass peculiar to the Arctic regions, mixed 

 with moss, is very substantial, with thick walls, and a small, deep cavity, which is 

 warmly lined with feathers. Mr. Norris has a set of four eggs of this species, which 

 was taken in Iceland, May 30, 1882. The eggs were fresh, and are of a pale greenish- 

 white, speckled and spotted, most heavily near the larger ends, with russet and 

 lilac-gray. Their sizes are .84x.61, .88x.67, .88x.61, .86x.64. The ground-color in a 

 large series is said to vary considerably — from whitish to dull purplish or greenish 

 tint, and the average size is .91x.64. 



534a. PRYBILOF SNOWrLAKE. Plectrophenax nivalis townsendi (Rldgw.) 

 Geog. Dist. — Prybilof Islands, Alaska, and Commander Islands, Kamchatka. 



This new subspecies is doubtless the bird found breeding by Dr. Stejneger on 

 Bering and Copper Islands, in June and July. He states that it is resident on the 

 islands during the whole year. If the season is open and otherwise favorable, the 

 flrst eggs will be laid shortly after the middje of May; the young will be out in the 

 "beginning of June. In July he found fresh eggs of a second brood. The smallest 

 eggs in the number taken measure .94x.69, .96x.67, .93x.73; the largest in long 

 (diameter, 1.06 inches. 



535. McKAT'S SNOWELAKE. Plectrophenax hyperboreus (Rldgw.) Geog. 

 Dist. — Western Alaska. 



McKay's Snowflake is known to breed on Hall's Island, and probably St. Mathew 

 Island, Bering Sea. Nothing is known, however, concerning its nest and eggs. Mr. 

 Charles H. Townsend, during the cruise of the steamer Corwln discovered the young 

 and those in breeding ylumage while the vessel was anchored off Hall's Island. 



536. LAPLAUD LONGSPtm. Calcarius lapponicus (Linn.) Geog. Dist. — 

 Arctic regions of both hemispheres; in North America south in winter to Northern 

 United States, sometimes as far as South Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Nevada, etc. 



As its name indicates, this is a boreal bird, and in North A'merica its summer 

 home is in the regions about Great Slave Lake, Mackenzie River, and Alaska. In 

 these places it breeds abundantly in May, June, and July. In the United States it 

 appears as a winter visitor, in flocks, often associating with the Horned Lark and 

 Snow Bunting, frequenting the same flelds. The nest of this species is described by 

 Dr. Coues as placed on the ground, under tussocks, in grassy hummocks. It is built 

 ■of mosses and flne, soft, dried grasses, and lined with a few large feathers from some 

 water fowl. The eggs, four to six in number, are rather pointed at the smaller end, 

 and are very dark colored, reminding one of the Titlark's; the color is a heavy cloud- 

 ing or thick mottling of chocolate-brown, through which the greenish-gray ground 

 is apparent; average size, .80x.62 inches. 



