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SNOW BUNTING 



The summer dress of the Snow Bimtmg is a tawny brown, in- 

 terspersed with white, covering the head, neck and lower parts ; 

 the back is black, each feather being skirted with brown; wings 

 and tail also black, marked in the following manner : — the three 

 secondaries next the body are bordered with bay, the next with 

 white, and all the rest of the secondaries, as well as their coverts, 

 and shoulder of the wing, pure white; the first six primaries are 

 black from their coverts downwards to their extremities ; tail fork- 

 ed, the three exterior feathers, on each side, white, marked on the 

 outer edge, near the tip, with black; the rest nearly all black; tail 

 coverts reddish brown, fading into white; bill pale brown; legs 

 and feet black ; hind claw long like that of the Lark, tho more 

 curved. In winter they become white on the head, neck, and whole 

 under side, as well as great part of the wings and rump ; the back 

 continues black skirted with brown. Some are even found pure 

 white. Indeed so much does their plumage vary according to age 

 and season, that no two are found at any time alike. 



