LAPLAND BUNTING. 41 



take wing when pursued, and runs for shelter among clods or 

 stones. In its flight, when roused, it is quick and buoyant ; 

 but if a bird of prey appears it alights and crouches close to 

 the ground. These birds associate with the shore-larks, and 

 appear to resemble them much in their habits. Their call- 

 note resembles somewhat that of the snow bunting, but is 

 shriller, and not so strong, sounding like itirrrr ! it also 

 says twee ! like the linnet. All its notes are uttered more 

 frequently on the wing than when perched. The male is 

 said to have a pleasing song, combining those of the linnet 

 and skylark. 



This Bunting breeds in Lapland, the north of Siberia, and 

 other Arctic regions, in meadow-lands among the hills, where 

 the ground is wet and springy. Its nest is placed upon the 

 ground among grass and herbage, usually elevated upon a 

 grassy knoll, or tuft ; it is built of dry grass-stalks, slightly 

 put together, and lined with feathers. The eggs are five 

 or six in number, of a pale ochreous colour, clouded with 

 brown. 



In this species the palatine knob, although present, is 

 smaller than in the true Buntings. 



The food of the Lapland Bunting consists of seeds of 

 various plants and grasses, and the young buds of alpine 

 shrubs ; also, in summer, of insects, which are found in abun- 

 dance in the humid and marshy meadows in which it passes 

 that season. 



The Lapland Bunting, like the rest of its family, is said to 

 bear confinement well, and to live caged several years. 



The entire length of this species is six inches and a half. 

 The wing measures from the carpus to the tip nearly four 

 inches ; the tail is two inches nine lines ; the tarsus ten 

 lines, the hinder toe and claw nine lines. 



The adult male of this species, the lower figure in the 



