FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 



65 



Gexus EUSPIZA, Boxap. 



Euspiza, BoNAP. List, 1838. (Type, Embcriza americana, Gmelin.) 

 Euspina, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 133. (Same type.) 



Gen. Char. Bill large and strong, swollen, and without any ridges ; the lower mandi- 

 ble nearly as high as the upper ; as 

 broad at the base as the length of 

 the gonys, and considerably broader 

 than the npper mandible ; the edges 

 much inflexed, and shutting much 

 within the upper mandible ; the 

 commissure considerably angulated 

 at the base, then decidedly sinuated. 

 The tarsus barely equal to the mid- 

 dle toe ; the lateral toes nearly equal, 

 not reaching to the base of the mid- 

 dle claw ; the hind toe about equal 

 to the middle one without its claw. 

 The wings long and acute, reaching 

 nearly to the middle of the tail ; the 

 tertials decidedly longer than the secondaries, but much shorter than the primaries ; first 

 quill longest, the others regularly graduated. Tail considerably shorter than the wings, 

 though moderately long; nearly even, although slightly emarginate ; the outer feathers 

 scarcely shorter. Middle of back only striped ; beneath without streaks. 



This genus comes nearer to Calamospiza, but has shorter tertials, more 

 slender bill, weaker and more curved claws, etc. 



Species. 



E. americana. Top and sides of head light slate ; forehead tinged with greenish- 

 yellow. A superciliary stripe, a maxillary spot, sides of breast, and middle line of breast 

 and belly, yellow. Chin white, throat black, shoulders chestnut. Female Math the black 

 of the throat replaced by a crescent of spots. Hab. Eastern Province of United Stat'es ; 

 south to New Grenada. 



E. townsendi. Body throughout (including the jugulum), dark ash, tinged with 

 brownish on the back and wings. Superciliary and maxillary stripe, chin, throat, and 

 middle of belly, white. A maxillary line and a pectoral crescent of black spots. No 

 chestnut shoulders. Hah. Chester Co., Pennsylvania. 



Huspiza americana, Bonap, 



Euspiza americana, Boxap. 



BLACK-THROATED BUNTING. 



Emberiza americana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 178S, S72. — Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 86, 

 pi. iii, f. 2. — AuD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 579, pi. ccclxxxiv. — Ib. Syn. 1839, 101. — 

 Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 58, pi. clvi. — Max. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 341. Fringilla (Spiza) 

 americana, Bonap. Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 85. Euspiza americana, Bonap. List, 1838 

 (type). — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 469. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 494. — Samuels, 

 327. Eiispina americana, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 133 (type). Fringilla flavi- 

 collis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 926. *' Emberiza mexicana, Latham," Syn. I, 1790, 412 

 (Gray). Passerina nigricollis, Vieillot. Yellow-throated Finch, Pennant, Arc. 

 Zool. II, 374. 

 vol. n. 9 



