292 
OUR HOME BIRDS. 
entirely white. Their plumage varies according to 
age and season. They come to us early in Decem- 
ber or with the first heavy snow. ‘ They fly in close, 
compact bodies, driving about most in a high wind, 
sometimes alighting near the doors, but seldom sit- 
ting long, being a roving, restless bird. They are 
universally considered as the harbingers of severe 
cold weather.’ 
“The nest of the snow- bunting can scarcely be 
found nearer than Greenland, where it is said to be 
made in the fissures of the rocks or mountains, of 
grass on the outside, feathers in the middle, and the 
down of the Arctic fox for a lining — a very comfort- 
able little retreat — and in it are laid five white eggs, 
spotted with brown. These birds are said to sing 
very sweetly near their nests. 
“ Snow-buntings are found even in the dreadful 
climate of Spitzbergen ; and the wonder is what they 
can get to eat there where nothing but mosses will 
grow. Where such things are to be found they live 
largely on the seeds of water-plants and some very 
small kinds of shellfish. 
“ The little winter wren, which is only three and 
a half inches long, is frequently seen in cold weather 
‘on the banks of creeks, old roots, decayed logs, small 
bushes, and rushes near watery places ; he even ap- 
