534. Snow Bunting. _Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis._ Range.--Breeds in the Arctic regions, and winters irregularly in large flocks through the United States to Oregon, Kansas and Georgia. These birds are only seen in the United States in large roving flocks, during the winter when they feed on weed seeds on side hills. Their nests are built on the ground, being sunk into the sphagnum moss, and made of grasses lined with feathers. Their four or five eggs are a light greenish white, spotted and splashed with yellowish brown and lilac. Size .90 × .65. 534a. PRIBILOF SNOW BUNTING. _Plectrophenax nivalis townsendi._ Range.--Pribilof and Aleutian Islands, Alaska. A slightly larger variety which is resident on the islands in its range. Eggs like those of the preceding; laid from May to July. [Illustration 334: Pine Siskin.] [Illustration: Greenish white.] [Illustration: Greenish white.] [Illustration: Snowflake.] [Illustration: left hand border.] Page 333 535. MCKAY'S SNOW BUNTING. _Pletrophenax hyperboreus._ Range.--Western Alaska; known to breed on Hall's Island. This beautiful species is, in summer, entirely white except for the tips of the primaries and a black spot on end of central tail feathers, thus being very distinct from the preceding, which has the back and the wings to a greater extent black, at this season. Their eggs probably very closely resemble those of the last species. 536. LAPLAND LONGSPUR. _Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus._ Range.--Breeds in northern North America; winters south casually to New York, Ohio and Oregon and occasionally farther. These sparrow-like birds are 6.5 inches long and have a black crown, cheeks and throat, and chestnut band on nape. Like the Snowflakes they nest on the ground in moss, but the four to six eggs that they lay are grayish, heavily mottled and blotched with chocolate brown; size .80 × .60. 536a. ALASKA LONGSPUR. _Calcarius lapponicus alascensis._ Range.--Northwest North America, breeding in Alaska; winter south to Oregon. This sub-species is like the last but slightly paler. Eggs indistinguishable. [Illustration 335: Grayish.] [Illustration: Norman W. Swayns. NEST AND EGGS OF GOLDFINCH.] [Illustration: right hand margin.] Page 334 537. SMITH'S LONGSPUR. _Calcarius pictus._ Range.--Breeds in Hudson Bay and Mackenzie River districts and winters south to Texas chiefly on the Plains. This species is of the size of the last but is a rich buff color below, and the other markings are very different. These birds together with the next species are very common on the prairies in central United States in winter. They nest on the ground like the preceding species but the nests are scantily made of grasses and not warmly lined like those of the last. The eggs are similar but paler; size .80 × .60. Data.--Herschell Island, Arctic Ocean, June 10, 1901. Nest built in a tuft of grass; made of fine roots and grass, lined with feathers. 538. CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR. _Calcarius ornatus._