FRINGILLID.E — TUE 1•I^X■HES. 



65 



the lower mancli- 



Genus EUSPIZA, Bonap. 



Enspiza, Bunap. List, 1838. (Type, Emberiza americana, Gmelin.) 

 Euspina, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 133. (Same type.) 



Gen. Char. Bill large and strong, swollen, and without nnv ri<Vj(. 

 ble nearly as high as the upjjer ; as 

 broad at the base as the length of 

 the gonys, and considerably broader 

 than the upper mandible; the edges 

 much inflexed, and shutting much 

 within the upper mandible ; the 

 commissure considerably angulated 

 at the base, then decidedly sinuated. 

 The tarsus barely equal to the mid- 

 dle toe ; the lateral toes nearly equal, 

 not reaching to the base of the mid- 

 dle claw ; the hind toe about equal 

 to the middle one without its claw. 

 The wings long and acute, reaching 



nearly to the middle of the tail ; the ''"''""' "'""*'""'■ ^onap. 



tertials decidedly longer than the secondaries, but much shorter than the primaries ; first 

 quill longest, the others regularly graduated. Tail considerably shorter than the wings, 

 though moderately long ; nearly even, although slightly emarginate ; the outer feathers 

 scarcely shorter. Middle of back only striped ; beneath without streaks. 



Thi.s genti.s comes nearer to Calamospiza, but has shorter tertials, more 

 slender bill, weaker aud more curved claws, etc. 



Species. 



E. americana. Top and sides of head light slate; forehead tinged with greenish- 

 yellow. A superciliary stripe, a maxillary spot, sides of breast, and middle line of breast 

 and belly, yellow. Chin white, throat black, shoulders chestnut. Female with the black 

 of the throat replaced by a crescent of spots. Hab. Ea.stern Province of United States; 

 south to New Grenada. 



E. townsendi. Body throughout (including the jugulum), dark ash, tinged with 

 brownish on the back and wings. Superciliary and maxillary stripe, chin, throat, and 

 middle of belly, white. A maxillary line and a pectoral crescent of black spots. No 

 chestnut shoulders. Hab. Chester Co., Pennsylvania. 



1459 



Euspiza americana, r.rix.\?. 



BLACK-THKOATED BUNTING. 



Emberiza amcrimna, Gmelin, .Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 8"2. — M'lLSOX, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 86, 

 pi. iii, f. 2. — AiTD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 579, pi. cccbcxxiv. — Ib. Syn. 1839, 101. — 

 Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 58, pi. clvi. — Max. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 341. Fringilla (Spiza) 

 aincricana, Boxap. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 85. Euspiza americana, Boxap. List, 1838 

 (type). — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 469. — Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 494. — Samuels, 

 327. Euspina americaim, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 133 (type). Fringilla fiati- 

 collis, Gmelin, Sy.st. Nat. I, 926. "Emberiza mcr.icana, Latham," Syn. I, 1790, 412 

 (Gray). Passerbia nigricollis, ViEiLLOT. Yelloiv-throatcd Finch, Peknant, Arc, 

 Zool. II, 374. 

 VOL. II, 9 



