TllK SNOW HUNTIN(;. 
Do 
that afforded when a cloud of tliese birds, backed by a dark 
grey sky, descends as it were in a shower to the ground, to the 
music of their own sweet tinkling notes. 
The Snow Bunting associates but little with other species, 
except in severe winter weather, when it will approach houses, 
and feed in company with mountain linnets and house-sparrows. 
I believe it always roosts upon the ground. Macgillivray 
remarks that although Hocks often come down to the shore to 
feed, he had never found inollusca in the stomach ; and he 
conjectures that they resort thither merely to obtain the small 
quantities of sand which are required for the trituration of the 
seeds and grain which seem to constitute their entire food. 
These observations are fully borne out by my own. 
Ornithologists will perhapts scarcely forgive me for highly 
recommending the beautiful and innocent “snow flake” as a 
perfect luxury for the table ; bu t I must plead guilty to having 
slain scores of them — and of many other species too- — for pur- 
poses not precisely scientinc. Should these ornithologists, not 
being gifted with the digestive organs of the vikings’ race, or 
at least with those of the Struthionidm, meditate passing a 
winter in the north isles, I would advise them to withhold 
their criticism until upon their return they can conscientiously 
aver that failing health has not driven diem to a like extremity; 
unless, indeed, their sojourn has been with the laird, the 
minister, or, still better, with the factor. 
Many Scotch naturalists of high authority, Mr Gray the 
latest among the number, are unanimous in the opinion that 
the Snow Bunting breeds in some parts of the British Isles, 
and I am only too happy to be able to testify to the soundness 
of such an opinion by facts which have occurred to my own 
knowledge. IMany years ago, having observed pairs in summer 
plumage, upon the hill and cliffs of Saxaford, from May till 
August, T became convinced that the birds must breed there, 
my suspicions being almost confirmed by seeing two eggs 
among the spoils of a local dealer, but which of course were of 
little value to me, it being then the honourably confiding 
