318 
SNOW BUNTING. 
left grain and seeds, while, in still milder weather 
they keep to the muir or sheep pastures. In the 
alpine districts, and similar sub-alpine sheep 
ranges in England, they are in a like manner 
found during winter, but towards the south their 
numbers decrease, and the flocks become smaller 
and more straggling; and, according to Mr 
Yarrell, these flocks, still farther decreased, “ by 
separation and other causes, are seen in York- 
shire, Norfolk, and Suffolk, sometimes on open 
heaths and warrens, at others in the marshes and 
fields contiguous to the coast. A few reach the 
southern counties, and have been seen from 
Sussex to Devonshire.” In Ireland, Mr Thomp- 
son has mentioned them to us as occurring in 
similar localities in the mountainous and sub- 
alpine districts. At this season of the year, as 
we have already stated, they appear in flocks, 
often consisting of some hundreds. When dis- 
turbed, they fly around, making sudden wheels 
before again alighting, and in their turnings, ex- 
hibit the dark and light parts of their plumage in 
a simultaneous manner, almost as distinctly as 
some, of the Sandpipers ; but when the flock is 
travelling, the flight is near the ground, in an 
undulating manner, and with frequent strokes of 
the wing. On the ground, they run with facility 
and quickness, and often squat. They never 
alight on trees or bushes, during their abode in 
this country, at least not within our own observa- 
tion, or that of our friends whom we have con- 
sulted. 
