Snow-Buntinc. PASSERES. EMBERIZA. 249 
These birds generally arrive in the upland or mountainous Periodical 
districts about the middle or latter part of October, in large viens 
flocks, which seem chiefly to consist of the young of the year 
(or Mountain Buntings), and of females or young males 
(the Tawny Buntings), with a few adult males intermixed, 
which, at this period, having scarcely acquired their winter’s 
livery, are in consequence nearer to the state of the Tawny 
plumage. Afterwards, if the season should be severe, small 
flocks are seen, principally consisting of adult male birds, in 
their winter’s dress, but never in such numbers as are those 
in the two first-mentioned states. It appears to me, that the 
same causes which operate upon the Chaflinches in the north- 
ern parts of Britain, leading to a separation of the sexes, and 
a farther equatorial movement of the females, also act upon 
the species now under consideration ; and which would satis- 
factorily account for the circumstance of the Tawny and 
Mountain Bunting having been met with at various times in 
the south of England, but the Snow Flake very rarely. 
As the severity of the winter increases, they leave the Food. 
heaths, where they have fed upon the seeds of various grass- 
es, and, descending to the lower grounds, frequent the oat- 
stubbles; and, if the snow lies deep, they approximate to 
the coasts, where the influence of the sea-breeze soon expo- 
ses a sufficient breadth of ground to afford them subsistence.. 
Their call-note is pleasing, and often repeated during their 
flight, which is always in avery compact body; and fre- 
quently, before settling on the ground, they make sudden 
wheels, coming almost in collision with each other, at which 
time a peculiar guttural note is produced. ‘They run with 
ease and celerity, like the Lark genus, and never perch on 
trees. 
They leave us on the first approach of spring for more north- 
ern regions, and advance by degrees within the Arctic Circle, 
in which latitude they breed. The nest is built in the fis- Nest, &c. 
sures of rocks, and is said to be lined with the downy fur of 
the arctic fox. The eggs, generally five, are of a bluish- 
