BIRDS — FRINGILLIDAE — PLECTROPHANES. 431 



The only specimen before me of this excessively rare species was taken in winter, when the 

 colors may he less brilliant than in spring. The wing is very much pointed ; the first three 

 primaries considerably longer than the fourth. 



List of specimens. 



PLECTROPHANLS, Meyer. 



PJeciropAanes, Meter, "Taschenbuch, 1810." Agassiz. Type Emheriza nivalis. 

 CentropUanes,KAv¥, " Entw. Gesch. Europ Thierwelt, 1829," Agassiz. Type E. lapponica. 



Ch. — Bill variable ; conical ; the lower mandible higher than the upper ; the sides of both mandibles (in the typical species) 

 guarded by a closely applied brush of stiffened bristly feathers directed forwards, and in the upper jaw concealing the nostrils ; 

 the outlines of the bill nearly straight, or slightly curved ; the lower jaw considerably broader at the base than the upper, and 

 wider than the gonys is long. Tarsi considerably longer than the middle toe ; the lateral toes nearly equal, (tlie inner claw 

 largest,) and reaching to the base of the middle claw. The hinder claw very long ; moderately curved and acute ; considerably 

 longer than its toe ; the toe and claw together reaching to the middle of the middle claw, or beyond its tip. Wings very long 

 and much pointed, reaching nearly to the end of the tail ; the first quill longest, the others rapidly graduated ; the tertiaries a 

 little longer than the secondaries. Tail moderate, about two-thirds as long as the wings ; nearly even, or slightly emarginated. 



In this group there is considerable diversity in the species as respects the size and shape of 

 the bill and claws. In the F. nivalis the bill is very small and short, the lower mandible 

 higher than the upper, the sides of the bill conpicuously margined by appressed bristly feathers ; 

 the hind toe with its claw is rather shorter than the middle one. In P. lapponicus the bill is 

 larger and longer ; the hind claw much longer than its toe, and with it reaching beyond the 

 middle claw. P. ornatus has the hind toe (without the claw,) proportionally longer than in the 

 last ; the claw rather shorter ; the two together, however, longer than the middle toe and claw. 

 In P. maccownii again the bill is much larger and stouter ; the hind toe and claw rather shorter 

 than in the latter, and about as long as the middle one. Unless all be thrown into one genus, 

 it will be difficult to get along with less than three, instead of the two hitherto adopted by 

 systematic writers. 



The males of the species are all strongly marked, but the females resemble the streaked 

 sparrows very closely. They are either white, with black back, as in P. lapponicus, or else 

 streaked on the back ; the head striped with white and black ; the under parts white with a 

 large black patch on the throat or breast. All have the outer tail feathers white. The species 

 may be arranged as follows : 



A. Plectrophanes, Meyer. — Bill very small. Hind toe not longer than the middle one. 



White; middle of back, inner tail feathers, and ends of wing quills, black. ...P. nivalis. 



B. Centrophanes, Kaup. — Bill more elongated but rather slender. Hind toe longer than 

 the middle one. Neck with a chestnut collar behind ; hood black. 



Chin and throat black; belly white; legs black P. lapponicus. 



Entirely buff beneath ; legs flesh color P. picfus. 



Bill slenderest; chin and throat white; entire breast black; shoulders brown. .P. ornatus. 

 (Similar to the last; shoulders black.. P. melanomus. 



