land Bunting- is richer and clearer than that of any other of our songsters — not so shrill as that of the Lark, 
hut far sweeter and more varied ; and I thought I never listened to a more pleasing melody. Oh, how often have 
I at such times envied the feelings of the true naturalist, who can listen to the artless song of the little bird 
without wishing it in his game-hag, and watch its hahits without hoping soon to sec it lying on his skinning- 
table ! There must, however, be collectors, or our knowledge of the feathered race would stand still ; but, 
depend upon it, the study of the animal creation loses half its innocent charms as soon as we make it a matter 
of pounds, shillings, and pence. 
The nest of the Lapland Bunting, as far as I could ascertain, is always placed on the ground, generally 
sheltered by a tussock of grass, occasionally under a small bush, built invariably and entirely of fine grass, put 
together loosely and without much care. The eggs vary much in colour; they often resemble those of the 
Black-headed Bunting, hut are more clouded than streaked; and I have seen them very like those of the Mea- 
dow-Pipit. Six appears to he the full number. By the end of July we shot strong-flyers, although most of 
the nests were taken about the 27th June.” 
I have often been at a loss to imagine where these birds dwell at the season opposite to that at which they 
are seen on theQuickiock fells and other parts of Norway, Finland, and Russia. They certainly cannot winter 
in those regions; and I know of no country in which they have been seen at that season. In Central and 
Southern Europe the species appears to be but a casual winter visitant, while in India it is not known ; and Mr. 
Swinhoe does not speak of it as inhabiting the southern part of China, although he says that it is abundant near 
Pekin in winter ; hut doubtless these are birds which have bred further north. Professor Baird, in his ‘ Cata- 
logue of American Birds,’ gives as its habitat in that country, “ Eastern North America, into the United States 
in winter ; not yet found much west of the Missouri.” 
As a counterpart to Wheelwright’s account of the bird in Northern Europe, I shall quote a passage from 
Sir John Richardson, in the ‘ Fauna Boreali-Amerlcana,’ respecting it as seen in that part of the world : 
“This handsome bird is common to the northern regions of both continents. According to Forster, it 
winters on the coast of Hudson’s Bay, arriving at Severn River in November, and departing on the approach 
of spring for the north. During its stay it feeds on grass-seeds and, Hearne says, also on the buds of the 
Pinus microcarpa.- ... I never met with it in the interior of the fur-countries during winter, and I suspect 
that its principal retreats at that season are on the borders of Lakes Huron and Superior, and to the country 
extending to the westward on the same parallel. In the year 1827 it appeared on the plains at Carlton 
House about the middle of May, in very large flocks, among which were many Shore-Larks (^Alauda alpestris), 
and a few individuals of Plectrophanes picta. During their stay of ten or twelve days, they frequented open 
spots where recent fires had destroyed the grass. They came to Cumberland House a few days later in the 
same season, and there kejvt constantly in the furrows of a newly-ploughed field. In the preceding year they 
were seen, though in smaller flocks, in the vicinity of Fort Franklin (lat. 65±°) in the beginning of May; and 
the crops of those that were then killed were filled with the seeds of the Arbutus alpina. They breed in the 
moist meadows of the Arctic Sea. The nest, placed in a small hillock, among moss and stones, is composed 
externally of the dry stems of grasses, interwoven to a considerable thickness, and lined very neatly and com- 
pactly with deer’s hair. The eggs, usually seven in number, are pale ochre-yellow, spotted with brown.” 
After a perusal of the above passages, it will he evident to evei-y one that the Lapland Bunting is truly an 
Arctic species, that it breeds and spends the summer in all parts of the Circle where suitable localities present 
themselves, and that when the snow carpets the mountains, and the fells are covered up for the winter, it 
retires southwardly to some district where a supply of food is still to be found, and there awaits the time 
when its summer home will be again fitted for its reception. 
A word with regard to the apparent affinities of this bird may not here be inappropriate. That it is 
closely allied to that section of the Buntings to which our black-headed species, Sclmnlcola arun- 
dinacea, pertains, there can be, in my opinion, but little doubt ; but its long hind claw proves that it 
is generically distinct ; in this part of its structure it differs from all insessorlal birds except the Larks, 
Pipits, and M^agtails. Some persons have considered that the lengthened claw allies it to the members 
of the genus Alauda or true Larks ; but, as Mr. Blyth very justly remarks, this is very superficial. It is a bird 
that is much on the ground, ovmr which it passes differently from most others ; for it neither runs like a 
Lark or a Wagtail, nor hops like a Sparrow, but moves in a manner which partakes of the actions of botli, 
I have reason to believe that a considerable change of plumage takes place in the male at opposite periods 
of the year, and that the black head and throat, and the ruddy markings of the up])er surface, shown in the 
accompanying plate, give place to a more uniformly coloured dress in winter. 
The figures represent a male, a female, and a brood of young just ready to fly, all of the natural size. 
