464 
GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 
They leave the colder arctic deserts, in the autumn, and 
are found around Hudson’s Bay in winter, not mak- 
ing their appearance there before November. Near Sev- 
ern river they haunt the cedar trees, upon whose berries 
they now principally feed. They live in large flocks, and 
are so gregarious that when separated from their own 
species, or in small parties, they usually, in Europe, as- 
sociate with the common Larks, or, in America, they 
join the roving bands of Snow-Birds. They feed princi- 
pally on seeds, and also on grass, leaves, buds, and in- 
sects. They breed on small hillocks in open marshy 
fields, and the nest is loosely constructed of moss and 
grass, and lined with a few feathers. The eggs are 5 or 
6, yellowish rusty, somewhat clouded with brown. The 
Longspur, like the Lark, sings only as it rises in the air, 
in which, suspended aloft, it utters a few agreeable and 
melodious notes. 
The male of this species is about 7 inches long ; and 12 in alar ex- 
tent. Bill yellow, dark at the point. Iris hazel, and the feet dusky. 
The fore part of the neck, throat, and breast are black, the hind-head 
bright reddish-rusty ; a white line runs from the base of the bill to 
the eye, behind which it widens and descends on the sides of the neck 
somewhat round the breast. Belly and vent white. Back and scap- 
ulars brownish-black, the feathers skirted with rusty ; smaller wing- 
coverts blackish, margined with white, the greater coverts edged 
with rufous and tipped with white, forming 2 white bands across the 
wings. Tail 2J inches, rather forked, and blackish, the outer feath- 
er on each side with a white spot. Hind nail nearly an inch long. — - 
Female a little smaller, with the top of the head, shoulders, back, and 
wing-coverts brownish black, edged with rusty ; sides of the head 
blackish and rusty. Line over the eye tinged with rusty ; throat 
white, encircled with brown ; the rest, below, white. — The dress 
of the young and autumnal birds vary more or less. 
