of the Plectrophanes Lapponica. 159 
that of the more typical species of Emberiza. It possesses, how- 
. ever, the palatial protuberance or knob, a characteristic feature 
of the latter group ; and its bill is in all respects similar in con- 
formation to that of the Snow Bunting (Emberiza nivalis Auct.), 
` which by Dr. Latham is placed at the head of his genus Em- 
beriza. By M. Temminck it is arranged with the Buntings, 
forming with Emberiza nivalis his second section of that genus, 
under the denomination of ** Bruants éperonniers." 
The comprehensive and enlightened views adopted by our 
most eminent naturalists of the present day, in the classification 
and arrangement of zoological objects, and which, in the de- 
partment of ornithological science, have been so ably developed 
by Mr. Vigors, have induced me to separate this species and 
Fringilla nivalis from the true Buntings, and to assign them a 
station in accordance with their natural affinities. In doing this, 
I follow the example of two eminent continental ornithologists, , 
MM. Meyer and Vieillot, both of whom have already separated 
. these two species from Emberiza, the one under the generic title 
of Plectrophanes, the other under that of Passerina. The appro- 
priate station then, of this genus, I conceive to be intermediate 
between Alauda and Emberiza, and forming as it were the me- 
dium of connexion or passage from one genus to the other. In 
Alauda it is met by that section of the genus which, in the 
increasing thickness and form of the bill, shows a deviation 
from the more typical species, and a nearer approach to the 
thick-billed Fringillide ; to this section Alauda calandra, and 
brachydactyla belong. Its affinity to the Larks is also shown 
in the form of the feet and production of the hinder claw : 
this in P. Lapponica is nearly straight, and. longer than the toe, 
resembling in every respect that of many of the true Larks. 
The habits and manners of the two known species also bear a 
much greater resemblance to those of the Larks than the Bun- 
tings. 
