438 



EMBERIZA. BUNTING. 



Bill short, strong, subpentagonal, and about as broad as 

 deep at the base, conical, compressed towards the end. Upper 

 mandible smaller and narrower, its dorsal outline slightly 

 convex, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges sharp 

 and inflected, the tip scarcely deflected. Lower mandible with 

 the angle very short, broad, and rounded, the dorsal outline 

 slightly convex, the back rounded, the sides convex, the edges 

 sharp and very much inflected. Gape-line ascending obliquely 

 for nearly half its length, then direct. 



The mouth is ratlier narrow^ ; the upper mandible internally 

 has a sudden bend about the middle, anterior to which is a 

 prominent knob, towards the end flat, with three prominent 

 lines and four grooves ; the lower mandible very deeply con- 

 cave. The tongue is sagittate and denticulate at the base, 

 fleshy, compressed, and terminates in two short bristly points. 

 The oesophagus is of moderate width, dilated about the middle ; 

 the proventriculus oblong. Gizzard roundish, compressed, 

 with very strong lateral muscles, a prominent inferior muscle, 

 and dense, tough, and rugous epithelium. Intestine of mode- 

 rate length, wider in its duodenal portion, and having two very 

 small coeca near its extremity. 



Nostrils oblong, in the lower and fore-part of the short nasal 

 depression, and having a horny arched operculum. Eyes of 

 moderate size ; eyelids feathered. Aperture of ear broadly el- 

 liptical, rather large. 



Body moderately stout ; neck short ; head rather large. 

 Legs rather strong, of ordinary length, or shortish ; tarsus 



