316 PLECTROPHANES. 



is shorter than that of the Buntings; the palatal 

 knob is not apparent. The claws are all straighter, 

 and that of the hallux is more than usualty 

 lengthened, the wings are long and pointed, 

 and fitted for their long migrations. They breed 

 on the ground, and are mostly natives of cold or 

 arctic latitudes during summer, migrating during 

 winter, at which time we receive their visits. 

 The genus may be thus characterized : 



PLECTROPHANES, Meyer. Generic characters, 

 Bill short, culmen bending, palatal knob 

 scarcely apparent in profile ; wings long, 

 first quill longest, second and third graduat- 

 ing, the fourth suddenly shortening ; tarsi 

 and feet rather short, claws slender, not 

 much bent, that of the hallux nearly equal 

 to the toe in length. 



Types. PL 1. nivalis, 2. Lapponica, 3. picta. 



Note. 1. 2. Europe, 3. America. 



