40 EMBERIZID.E. 



In Siberia, and on the Ural chain, the Lapland Bunting 

 is said to be met with in flocks, but in more temperate 

 regions it is seldom seen in numbers, although a few are 

 annually observed in Germany, Prussia, and Poland, es- 

 pecially in Silesia, on the Reisengebirge, or Giant Moun- 

 tains ; and they have occasionally been seen in Switzer- 

 land. In the temperate parts of Europe these birds make 

 their appearance about October, and disappear in February 

 or March. 



In England the appearance of specimens of this species has 

 occurred very rarely, and these individuals have all been in 

 immature plumage. A capture was recently made of a living 

 individual of this species, interesting from its rarity, which is 

 mentioned in the tenth number of the Zoologist as having 

 occurred in the neighbourhood of Kendal. This bird was 

 taken by a bird-catcher in a trap, after a whole day's per- 

 severing watchfulness, as it was very wary and difficult to 

 approach. It is at present in the possession of H. L. Has- 

 lam, Esq. who describes it as very lively in its manners, and 

 sociable with its feathered companions. It is supposed to 

 be a female, as it exhibits the sombre plumage usually as- 

 signed to that sex. The circumstance which appears the 

 most remarkable in the account of this specimen is, that it 

 was captured in the end of June, or beginning of July, 

 a period at which all of this species are supposed to be 

 within or very near the Arctic circle, according to popular 

 report. 



The Lapland Bunting appears to inhabit by preference 

 hilly and mountainous localities, where the country is wild 

 and desolate, and destitute of trees, and whose only pro- 

 duction is stunted shrubs. This species is always seen upon 

 the ground, where it runs in the manner of the larks, holding 

 its body in an inclined, or horizontal position ; it is slow to 



