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wings containing nine primaries only ; 

 a tail of twelve feathers, quite variable 

 in shape. The nostrils are pierced close 

 to the line of the forehead, very near the 

 upper mandible, and are concealed by 

 feathei"s, or a membrane, whilethe rictal 

 bristles are distinct. The sexes are 

 usually dissimilar in plumage, and that 

 of the nestling is quite variable. They 

 are for the most part gregarious and 

 arboreal, though many of them feed 

 freely on the ground. 



One large, Old World genus of this 

 Family, the Buntings (Emberiza), is 

 sometimes given Family, or sub-family 

 rank. It is distinguished principally 

 by the fact that the two mandibles are 

 not in contact throughout their length, 

 but form an angle about midway. 

 There is also a hard, bony knob on 

 the palate. 



This family numbers over 560 

 species, of which China has about 60, 

 and the Yangtse Valley 25. 



THE BLACK-HEADED 

 HAWFINCH. 



EOPHONA MELANURA (gm). 



Description. — Length six and one 

 half inches. Bill very large, heavy, 

 conical in shape ; yellow, with both 

 mandibles edged and tipped green. 

 Tarsus white. 



Male. — Entire head glossy black, 

 Neck, breast, and rump ashy gray. 

 Back gray brown. Abdomen, upper 

 and under tail coverts white. Flanks 

 gray with some rufous. Wings and 

 tail metallic black, the wing feathers 

 tipped with white forming bars. The 

 tailis forked. 



