LAPLAND LARK-BUNTING. 51 



and it seems surprising that none were observed near the Columbia river by 

 Mr. Townsend. 



The best account of this species, as observed in the northern latitudes of 

 America where it breeds, is that given by Dr. Richardson, in- the Fauna 

 Boreali-Americana. After stating that it is common in the northern regions 

 of both continents, he says:— "I never met with this species in the interior 

 of the Fur Countries during winter, and I suspect that its principal retreats 

 in that season are on the borders of Lakes Huron and Superior, and in 

 the country extending to the westward on the same parallel. In the year 

 1S27, it appeared on the plains at Carlton House, about the middle of May, 

 in very large flocks, among which were many Shore Larks [Mauda 

 alpestris) and a few individuals of Emberiza picta. During their stay of 

 ten or twelve days, they frequented open spots, where recent fires had 

 destroyed the grass. They came to Cumberland House a few days later in 

 the same season, and there kept constantly in the furrows of a newly 

 ploughed field. In the preceding year they were seen, though in smaller 

 flocks, in the vicinity of Fort Franklin (lat. 65^°) in the beginning of May; 

 and the crops of those that were then killed were filled with the seeds of 

 the Arbutus alpinus. They breed in the moist meadows on the shores of 

 the Arctic sea. The nest, placed on a small hillock, among moss and stones, 

 is composed externally of the dry stems of grass, interwoven to a consider- 

 able thickness, and lined very neatly and compactly with deer's hair. The 

 eggs, usually seven, are pale ochre-yellow, spotted with brown. 



The figure of the male in summer plumage represented in my plate, was 

 drawn from a beautiful specimen in the collection of my esteemed friend 

 Captain James Clark Ross of the British Navy. 



Lapland Longspur, Emberiza lapponica, Bonap. Amer. Orn., vol. i. p. 53. 



E.mberiza lapponica, Bonap. Syn., p. 440. 



Ejieeriza (Plectrophanes) lapponica, Lapland Buntling, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. 



Amer., vol. ii. p. 248. 

 Lapland Longspur, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 463. 

 Lapland Longspur, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 473. 



Male, in summer, with the head and fore part of the neck black; a white 

 band over the eye, passing along the neck, and margining the black; a 

 brownish-red crescent on the hind neck; the feathers on the rest of the 

 upper parts black, broadly margined with yellowish-red; first row of small 

 coverts tipped with white; lower parts white, the sides streaked with black. 

 Male, in winter, with the upper part of the head black, the feathers edged 

 with brownish-red, cheeks and band over the eye greyish-yellow; feathers 

 of the fore neck black, broadly tipped with white; dark streaks on the sides 



