460 
GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 
and have always a great predominance of white in their 
plumage. 
The Snow-Buntings are seen in spring to assemble 
in Norway and its islands in great numbers ; and, after a 
stay of about three weeks, they disappear for the season, 
and migrate across the arctic ocean to the farthest known 
land. On their return in winter to the Scottish High- 
lands their flights are said to be immense, mingling, by 
an aggregating close flight, almost into the form of a ball, 
so as to present a very fatal and successful mark for 
the fowler. They arrive lean, but soon become fat ; in 
Austria they are caught in snares or traps, and, when 
fed with millet, become equal to the Ortolan in value 
and flavor. When caged, they show a very wakeful dis- 
position, instantly hopping about in the night when alight 
is produced. Indulgence in this constant train of action, 
and perpetual watchfulness, may perhaps have its influ- 
ence on this species, in the selection of their breeding 
places within the arctic regions, where, for months, they 
continue to enjoy a perpetual day. 
The food of these birds consists of various kinds of 
seeds, and the larvae of insects and minute shell-fish ; the 
seeds of aquatic plants are also sometimes sought by them, 
and I have found in their stomachs those of the Ruppia , 
species of Polygonum , and gravel. In a state of confine- 
ment they shell and eat oats, millet, hemp-seed, and 
green peas, which they split. They rarely perch, and, 
like Larks, live much on the ground. 
The Snow-Bunting is about 7J inches in length. The old male in 
summer dress has the head, neck, and all the lower parts, as well as 
the lesser wing-coverts, and the inferior half of the quills of a pure 
white. Upper part of the back, the 3 secondary feathers of the 
wings nearest to the body, the bastard wing, and the upper half 
of the quills, black. The 3 lateral feathers of the tail white, with 
black marks towards their ends, the 4th white on the upper part of 
