PLECTROPHANES. LARK-BUNTING. 4r)9 



seven scutella, laterally and posteriorly with two plates meet- 

 ing at a very acute angle, and inferior rugae ; toes covered 

 above with long scutella, papillar beneath, the second and 

 fourth nearly equal, the third much longer, the first consider- 

 ably longer than the third, w^hich is united with the fourth as 

 far as the second joint ; claws long, slightly arched, compressed, 

 rather stout at the base, but abruptly attenuated, with deep 

 lateral grooves, and pointed ; the hind claw longer than the 

 first joint of the pollex. 



Plumage more or less blended, the feathers ovate, with a 

 long slender plumule of about eight disunited barbs. Wings 

 long, semicordate, acute, and tapering, the quills eighteen, the 

 first longest. Tail rather long, emarginate. 



The distinctions between this genus and Emberiza, although 

 slight, are yet easily perceived. The upper mandible in Plec- 

 trophanes is broader, the wings longer and more pointed, the 

 hind claw proportionally more elongated, and the knob on the 

 palate less angular and elevated. In the form of the bill it ap- 

 proaches to the Linnets, and in that of the feet to the Larks, 

 at least with reference to the elongation of the claw of the hind 

 toe. 



Only one species of this genus, which, however, is composed 

 of very few species, is of regular occurrence in Britain, visit- 

 ing the north of Scotland towards the end of autumn, and 

 spreading over the whole of England. Individuals, however, 

 in atl probability remain to breed on the mountains of the 

 northern districts. A very small number of specimens of 

 another species has been seen in England in winter. 



