56 SNOW LARK-BUNTING. 



that the Snow Buntings endeavour to return each successive winter, unless 

 compelled by the weather to proceed still farther south. I have seen them 

 on the borders of Lake Erie, and on some of the barrens of Kentucky, for 

 several successive seasons in the same neighbourhood. At Louisville I saw 

 a flock each winter, on a piece of open ground between that city and the 

 village of Shippingport, when their movements seldom extended beyond a 

 space half a mile in diameter. It was there that one morning I caught 

 several which were covered with hoarfrost, and so benumbed, that they 

 were unable to fly. At that season, they kept company with the Shore- 

 larks, the Lark-finches, and several species of Sparrow. They frequently 

 alighted on trees, particularly the sweet gum, of which they eat the seeds. 



The flight of this bird has a considerable resemblance to that of the 

 Shore-lark, being rapid, elevated, and greatly protracted. It glides, as it 

 were, through the air, in long and easy undulations, repeating a soft whistling 

 call-note at each of these curves. While on the ground they run nimbly, 

 and if wounded make off with great celerity, hiding in the grass, where it is 

 difficult to find them, as they lie close and silent until danger is over. 



When they first arrive, they are usually gentle and easily approached; 

 but as their flesh is savoury, and their appearance attractive, they are -shot in 

 immense numbers, so that they soon become shy and wary. During mode- 

 rate weather, they become more careless, appear to stray farther from each 

 other, and if by the middle of the day the sun shines out warm, the male 

 birds sing a few plaintive but soft and agreeable notes. 



Only a single nest of this bird has been found within the limits of the 

 United States. It was seen by Wright Boott, Esq. of Boston, on a 

 declivity of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, in the month of July 

 1S31. That gentleman described it to me as being fixed on the ground amid 

 low bushes, and formed like that of the Song Sparrow. It contained young 

 ones. 



Whilst with us, these birds are found in all varieties of plumage, except- 

 ing the pure white and black, which form their summer dress. I have not 

 seen any having these colours, even among those procured late in March, 

 when they usually leave the United States. In Labrador and Newfound- 

 land, they are known by the name of the "White-bird." Their food there 

 consists of grass seeds, insects of various kinds, and minute testaceous 

 mollusca. They not unfrequently alight on the wild oats growing on the 

 borders of lakes and ponds, to feed on its seeds, and with all these substances 

 they mix a proportion of fine sand or gravel. 



In winter, from Nova Scotia to Kentucky. Abundant. Much rarer along 

 the Atlantic coast. Some breed in Vermont and Massachusetts. Fur Coun- 

 tries in summer. 



