GEOUXD FI>'CHES. 
165 
about five or six reddisli-wliite eggs, spotted with 
brown, and nearly spherical. 
According to Wilson, the summer dress of the 
Snow Bunting is a tawny brown, interspersed 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 bodv are 
bordered with bay, the next with white, and all the 
rest of the secondaries, as well as the coverts and 
shoulder of the wing, pure white ; the first six prima- 
ries are black from their coverts downwards to their 
extremities ; tail forked, 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 wliite ; bill, pale brown ; 
legs and feet, black ; hind claw long, like that of the 
Lark, though 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 
pure white. Indeed, so much does their plumage 
vary, that no two are found at any time alike. 
The Common Bunting {Eniberiza miliarici) is com- 
monly found throughout the greater part of Europe, 
and is plentiful in England, particularly upon culti- 
vated lands, where, in the season of autumn, large 
flocks congregate together. Hedges, the neighbour- 
hood of farm-houses, and barn-yards, are places to 
which they commonly resort ; and by net and gun 
many thousands are taken for food, and considered a 
delicacy. When spring returns, these assembled mul- 
