432 U. Ss. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
C. RuyncHopHaNes, Baird.1—Bill very large at the base; hind claw shorter. No rufous 
nuchal collar. 
Crown black; shoulders chestnut; beneath white, with a black pectoral crescent. 
P. maccownit. 
The essential characters of the genus, as usually understood, consist in the very long and 
pointed wings; the moderate, nearly even tail; the very long, little curved, hind claw. 
Whether the elongated and nearly straight hind claw be not an arbitrary character embracing 
species otherwise dissimilar I do not pretend to decide. Bonaparte considers the P. maccownit, 
so totally distinct from the other species, as to warrant a place in a different family. 
sl 
Comparative measurements of species. * 
3 J | 5 | lars 
Catal, Species. Locality. ) a 5 sp | a 5 oe = ono 8 & Specimen 
No. | es | 5 5 2 ees a | 3 =  solz s s | = measured. 
ea si es Gr Se SAE) EPS rae eS 
i} 
1289 | Plectrophanes nivalis ..| North America ..... ae 6.70 |.... e008 4.24 | 3.07 | 0.81 | 0.75 | 0.25 | 0.58 | 0.34 | 0.43 0.43 | Skin ...... 
PLOT N Sieve sts/atete WOsaaeaasieina cscs Philadelphia......... [tease B10 jesse eens 4.14 | 2.84 | 0.79 | 0.86 | 0.28 | 0.66 | 0.36 | 0.40 | 0.51 | Skin...... 
6701 |Plectrophaneslapponicus Dane county, Wis.. | @ | 6.20 | BOORtIOS 3.81 | 2.73 | 0.86 | 0.80 | 0.26 | 0.76 | 0.44 44 | 0.52 | Skin 
8246 |.... 2006 dO.. vesnesscceee 50 miles west Fort | | 
Leavenworth .. ....)seeses 5.60 | | 2.85 | 0.85 | 0.85 | 0.29 | 0.79 | 0.46 | 0.43 | 0.49 | Skin...... 
8246 |........ dove seacsccce-leseeer COmMeseerce cal esee'ss|KGs12) | @LONTS 41/3875) |asional ae eee ad ee eeoey eeeces) eerer aceer Fresh ..... 
1941 | Plectrophanes pictus...) Fort Union,N.M....) O | 5.50 2.50 | 0.85 | Feet | broke'n off..|..... 0.45 | 0.50 | Skin...... 
115 Reenoeee dOs<\ ascites cece | Pembina, Minn....  |-+++++ Gr60Nleecasese 2.73 | 0.81 | 0.78 | 0.20 | 0.64 | 0.33 | 0.40 | 0 47 | Skin..... 5 
1907 | Plectrophanes ornatus..| Fort Union .. ...+++. | GB | 5.10 )........ 3.14 | 2.14 | 0.76 | 0.74 | 0.19 | 0.72 | 0.36 | 0.44 | 0.46 | Skin...... 
4827 Bijou Hill | 2.59 | 0.73 | 0.72 | 0.21 | 0.72 | 0.39 | 0.39 | 0.54 | Skin... ... 
9218 | | 
2.58 | 0.73 |'0.74 | 0 23 |. ....0) cee, 0.41 | 0.44 | Skin.-.... 
6292 | 2.36 | 0.73 | 0.64 0.16 | 0.68 | 0.36 | 0.40 | 0.48 | Skin ...... 
6290 | 2,62 | 0.75 | 0.74 | 0.20 | 0.65 | 0.32 | 0.37 | 0.41 | Skin ...... 
6293 2.41 | 0.74 | 0.71 | 0.18 | 0.66 | 0.32 | 0.40 | 0.45 | Skin ...... 
6282 | | 
| 2.47 | 0.81 | 0.74 | 0.20 | 0.60 | 0.26 | 0.44 | 0.62 | Skin ...... 
6283 2.27 | 0.76 | 0.69 | 0.18 | 0.64 | 0.35 | 0.43 | 0.53 | Skin ...... 
| | 
PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS, Meyer. 
Snow Bunting. 
Emberiza nivalis, L. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 308. (Not Fringilla nivalis, L.)—Forsrer, Phila. Trans. LXII, 1772, 403.— 
Wizson, Am. Orn. III, 1811, 86; pl. xxii—Aup. Orn. Biog. I, 1834, 575: V, 1839, 496; pl. 189. 
Emberiza (Plectrophanes) nivalis, Bon. Obs. 1825, No. 89 
“ Plectrophanes nivalis, Meyer.’’—Bon. List, 1838.—Aup. Syn. 1839, 103.—In. Birds Amer. II, 1841, 55; pl. 155. 
Emberiza montana, GmeEwin, Syst. I, 1788, 867, 25. 
Emberiza mustelina, Gmeuin, Syst. I, 1788, 867, 7. 
Emberiza glacialis, Latuam, Ind. Orn. [, 1790, 398. 
Sp Cu—Colors, in full plumage, entirely black and white. Middle of back between scapulars, terminal half of primaries and 
tertiaries, and two innermost tail feathers, black ; elsewhere pure white. Legs black at all seasons. In winter dress white beneath ; 
the head and rump yellowish browg, ag also some blotches on the side of the breast ; middle of back brown, streaked with black ; 
white on wings and tail much more restricted. Length, about 6.75; wing, 4.35; tail, 3.05 ; first quill longest. 
Hab —Northern America from Atlantic to Pacific; south into the United States in winter. 
This species varies much in color, and the male in full plumage is seldom if ever seen within 
the limits of the United States. 
‘It is my impression that Bonaparte has proposed a name for this section in removing it to another family, but [ am unable 
to find it. : 
