SNOW BUNTING. 32d 
GENUS PLECTROPHANES. Meyer. 
Bill variable, blunted; lower mandible higher and wider at base than upper. Wings 
one-half longer than the nearly even tail, reaching nearly to its tip. First quill as long 
as the second. Tarsi longer than middle tee. Hind claw very long and acute, longer 
than its digit, less curved than the middle claw. Lateral toes equal. 
PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS (L.) Meyer. 
Snow Bunting. 
Emberiza nivalis, AUDUBON, Orn. Biog., ii, 1834, 515.—KirtTLanp, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 
1832, 164, 183 —Reap, Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci., vi, 1835, 395. 
Plectrephanes nivalis, AUDUBON, B. Am., iii, 1261, 56.—Barrp, P. R R. Rep., ix, 1858, 438. 
WHEATON, Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1°60, 1661, 366; Reprint, 8; Food of Birds, etc., Ohic 
Agric. Rep. for 1874, 1875, 566; Reprint, ¢.—Cours, Birds of N. W., 1874, 118.— 
LANGDON, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 3; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 
1879, 175; Reprint, 9. 
White Snow Bird, KirRTLAND, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 68, 72, 120, 148; Ohio Farmer, ix, 
1860, 91. 
Hmberiza nivalis, LINN AUS, Syst. Nat., 1, 1766, 363. 
Plectrophanes nivalis, MEYER. 
Bill smail, truly conic, ruffed at base; hind claw decidedly curved. In breeding 
plumage pure white, the back, wings and tail variegated with black; bill and feet black. 
As generally seen in the United States, the white is clouded with warm, clear brown, 
and the bill is brownish. Length, about 7; wing, 44; tail, 22. 
Habitat, Arctic America and Greenland, and corresponding latitudes in the Old World. 
Irregularly southward in winter in the United States te about 35°. 
Irregular winter visitor, common in Northern, rare in Middle and 
Southern Ghio. Dr. Kirtland (Fam. Vis, April 18), speaking of the late- 
ness of the spring of 1850, says: 
* Several species of winter birds seem to have known that winter was likely to linger 
in the lap of May. Within a few days large flocks of Red-polls have been flitting 
about our fields, and the Whiie Snow-bird has remained so late with us this season that 
if has moulted here and appeared in its summer plumage—an occurrence never before 
observed. We have never known them to continue here after the ice has left the Lake, 
and snow entirely disappeared.” 
In this vicinity I have met them on but three occasions. A single 
bird was found in April, 1863, whose departure had probably been delayed 
by some accident. In February, 1874, a single individual was seen in 
company with Shore Larks. In February, 1875, a flock of about two 
hundred birds appeared during a severe snow storm. Mr. Langdon says 
it has not been seen in the vicinity of Cincinnati for several years. 
The Snow Bunting appears in the United States in roving flocks only 
in severe cold weather. They appear to be more common near the coast 
