156 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



THE YELLOW-WINGED BUNTING. 



Emberiza passerina. 



plate lxvi. fig. 150. 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Fringilla passerina. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 3, p. 76, pi. 24, fig. 5. 

 F. (Spiza) passerina. Bonapakte, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. New-York, Vol. 2, p. 109. 

 Fringilla id. Audubon, fol. pi. 130 ; Orn. Biog. Vol. 2, p. 180, and Vol. 5, p. 497. 

 Savatmak Finch, or Yellow-shouldered Sparrow. Nuttall, Man. Ornith. Vol. 1, p. 494. 



Coturnicuhts id. Bonaparte, Geog. List, p. 32. ^ 



B. id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 3, p. 73, pi. 162 (male). Giraup, Birds of Long island, p. 103. 



Characteristics. Line over the eyes, lesser wing-coverts and shoulder, yellow. Breas; 

 brownish drab. Centre of the breast dull white. Length, 4-5 inches, 



Description. Bill very stout and short, slightly arched ; the upper mandible extending 

 over the lower, and slightly notched at the tip. First and second quills longest, subequal. 

 Tail with acute feathers, emarginate and rounded, extending 1 ' beyond the tips of the 

 closed wings. Hind claw elongated, slightly arched. 



Color of the head, blackish, with a white central streak and a yellow line over each eye. 

 Back of the neck with rust-colored spots. Back varied with black, brown and white : the 

 yellow line over the eye, passes into dull white beyond it. Middle of the breast and the vent 

 soiled white. Quills and tail-feathers dusky, margined with whitish. Edge of the wing, at 

 the shoulder, bright yellow. Female : central stripe on the crown cream-color. 



Length, 4-5-5-0. Alar extent, 7*5 -8-0. 



This little Sparrow appears in this State about the first week in May, and remains with us 

 in large numbers to the end of October. It doubtless breeds here, but I have never seen its 

 nest, which is stated to be placed on the ground, and to contain four or five dingy white eggs 

 sprinkled with brown spots. Its food consists of insects and their larvae, and of the seeds of 

 grasses and other plants. The history of its migrations is incomplete. It has been observed 

 in Mexico, Texas, and on the shores of the Columbia river. In its progress northward along 

 the Atlantic coast from Texas, it has not yet been observed in any of the States south of 

 Maryland, where it is first seen, and thence through Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, New- York 

 and Connecticut, which is its farthest eastern limit yet observed. Peabody does not men- 

 tion it among the birds of Massachusetts. I have noticed it abundantly on Long island, and 

 in Rockland and the neighboring counties. 



