PINCHES, SPARROWS 



(536) Calcarius lapponicus 

 lapponicus 



(Linn.) (Lat., a spur, relating to the 

 long hind claw). 



LAPLAND LONGSPUR. Hind 

 toe-nail quite straight and as long as 

 the toe. Ad. c? in summer — As 

 shown. Top of head, face and 

 throat black; nape chestnut; two 

 outer tail feathers with white tips. 

 Ad. 9 , Im. and c? in winter — Upper 

 parts streaked with black, rufous 

 and buff; under parts whitish, with 

 few black streaks; no large black 

 areas. L., 6.50; W., 3.60; T., 2.60; 

 Tar., .75. Nest — Of grass, moss and 

 feathers; on the ground. 



Range — Breeds from Ungava and 

 Keewatin northward. Winters south 

 irregularly to the Middle States and 

 Texas. 



tries; when crossed with the European Goldfinch they make 

 excellent songsters. 



' SNOW BUNTINGS, or SNOWFLAKES, as they are 

 more often called, are so called because in winter they drift 

 in upon us from the north and settle on our fields like so 

 many large, white snowflakes. They usually travel in large 

 flocks and go from hill to hill, feeding upon seeds of weeds 

 that are above snow. They are more wary than most of our 

 other winter visitors; if any one of them sees any one ap- 

 proaching, he gives a warning "tuit," and instantly the 

 whole flock is a-wing. They may circle about and drop 

 down into the same field again, but the chances are that 

 they will whirl across the valley and alight on the side of the 

 next hill. Their flight is rapid but undulatory, producing 

 a remarkable effect, as some of the birds are always rising 

 while others are falling, just as real snowflakes flutter through 

 the air. When they find a stiitable place to alight, they 

 suddenly wheel about and descend precipitously. 

 They run about easOy, not by hops like most sparrows 



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