BRITISH BIRDS. 
149 
mage will be. It is chiefly met with in the nor- 
thern parts of this ifland, where it is called the 
Snowflake ; it appears in great flocks in the fnowy 
feafon, and is faid to be the certain harbinger of fe- 
vere weather, which drives it from its ufual haunts. 
This bird has been caught in various parts of 
Yorkfhire, and is frequently met with in Northum- 
berland ; it is found in all the northern latitudes 
without exception, as far as our navigators have 
been able to penetrate, great flocks of thefe birds 
having been feen by them upon the ice near the 
fliores of Spitzbergen. They are known to breed 
in Greenland, where the female makes its nefl in 
the flffures of the mountain rocks ; the outfide is 
compofed of grafs, within which is a layer of fea- 
thers, and the down of the ardlic fox compofes the 
lining of its comfortable little manfion ; flie lays 
five white eggs, fpotted with brown. Thefe birds 
do not perch, but continue always on the ground., 
and run about like Larks, to which they are fimi- 
lar in fize, manners, and in the length of their hind 
claws, from whence they have been ranged with 
birds of that clafs by fome authors, but with more 
propriety have been referred to the Buntings, from 
the peculiar ftru&ure of their bill. They are faid 
to fing fweetly, fitting on the ground. On their 
firft; arrival in this country they are very lean ; but 
foon grow fat, and are confidered as delicious food® 
The Highlands of Scotland abound with them. 
L3 
