BUNTINGS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 435 



Passerines and Alaudanae. The genus Plectrophanes has the 

 bill intermediate between those of the Linariag and Emberizae, 

 and in the form of the wings resembles the Larks, to which it 

 further manifests an affinity by having the hind claw elongated 

 and little curved. But the Larks, although some of them have 

 the bill strong, and thus resemble the Emberizanae and Pas- 

 serinas, yet generally have that organ much more slender and 

 less conical, while in other respects they are most intimately 

 connected w^ith the Pipits, which, again, are allied to the Wag- 

 tails. Further, the Larks have the digestive organs similar to 

 the Thrushes, Pipits, and other slender billed birds, inasmuch 

 as they are destitute of a crop, as may be seen in Fig. 5. of PL 

 VIII, w^hich represents the intestinal canal of the Field Lark, 

 Alauda arvensis. For these reasons, and others which will 

 afterwards be given, I think they ought not to be associated 

 w^ith the Deglubitores. Indeed, although some of them feed 

 much on seeds, they are not buskers, but swallow their food 

 unpeeled. 



Our Buntings are so few that it is scarcely necessary to 

 mention the circumstances in which they agree as to habits, 

 further than that in most respects they resemble the Passerinae, 

 but are more strictly terrestrial. They have a strong, undu- 

 lated, and rather rapid flight ; move on the ground by short 

 leaps ; frequent the open fields, retreating to trees and bushes 

 when disturbed, and at night reposing, some on the ground, 

 others on plants, or in bushes. The nest is rather bulky, deep, 

 and compact, placed on the ground, or in bushes. The eggs 

 vary from four to six, and are spotted, clouded, or lined. The 

 young are born blind, and the males generally assume a dif- 

 ferent colour from the females. These birds are generally 

 distributed over the country, frequenting in winter the open 

 fields in large flocks. 



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