SNOW BUNTING. 
223 
overflow the more southern countries in amazing mul- 
titudes, at the setting in of winter in the frigid zone. 
In the winter of 1778-9, they came in such multitudes 
into Birsa, one of the Orkney islands, as to cover the 
whole barony; yet of all the numbers, hardly two agreed 
in colours. 
u Lapland, and perhaps Iceland, furnishes the north 
of Britain with the swarms that frequent these parts 
during winter, as low as the Cheviot hills, in lat. 52° 
32'. Their resting places, the Feroe isles, Schetland, 
and the Orkneys. The Highlands of Scotland, in par- 
ticular, abound with them. Their flights are immense, 
and they mingle so closely together in form of a ball, 
that the fowlers make great havoc among them. They 
arrive lean, soon become very fat, and are delicious 
food. They either arrive in the Highlands very early, 
or a few breed there, for I had one shot for me at 
Invercauld, the 4th of August. But there is a certainty 
of their migration ; for multitudes of them fall, wearied 
with their passage, on the vessels that are sailing 
through the Pentland Firth.* * * § 
“ In their summer dress, they are sometimes seen in 
the south of England,')' the climate not having severity 
sufficient to affect the colours ; yet now and then a 
milk white one appears, which is usually mistaken for 
a white lark. 
“ Russia and Siberia receive them in their severe 
seasons annually, in amazing flocks, overflowing almost 
all Russia. They frequent the villages, and yield a 
most luxurious repast. They vary there infinitely in 
their winter colours, are pure white, speckled, and even 
quite brown. J This seems to be the influence of 
difference of age more than of season. Germany has 
also its share of them. In Austria, they are caught and 
fed with millet, and afford the epicure a treat equal to 
that of the ortolan.” § 
* Bishop Pocock’s Journal, MS. 
f Morton’s Northamp. p. 427. 
i Bell’s Travels , i, 198. 
§ Kramer, Anim. Austr. SI 2. 
4 
