56 AVES. 



(AMPELID^E.) 



26. BOMBYCILLA. Bill strong, short, and straight, 

 broad at the base ; upper mandible convex above, slightly 

 bending at the tip, and emarginated : nostrils oval, covered 

 by small hairy feathers directed forwards : tarsus shorter 

 than the middle toe : wings long, and pointed ; first and 

 second quills longest ; secondaries tipped with wax-like 

 appendages. 



II. CONIROSTRES. Bill moderate or elongated, 

 strong, more or less conic, entire or slightly 

 emarginated: feet robust; toes three before and 

 one behind. 



(FRINGILLID.E.) 



27. ALAUDA Bill short, subdonic; mandibles of 



equal length ; the upper one convex, and slightly curved : 

 nostrils basal, oval, covered by small bristly feathers di- 

 rected forwards: hind claw nearly straight, longer than 

 the toe : wings long ; first quill almost abortive ; second 

 a little shorter than the third, which is longest : wing- 

 coverts shorter than the quills. 



28. EMBERIZA Bill short, strong, conic, sharp- 

 pointed ; the mandibles a little distant from each other, 

 and forming an angle at the gape, compressed in front, 

 with the tomia bending inwards; upper mandible smaller 

 and narrower than the lower ; palate furnished with a hard 

 bony knob. 



(1. PLECTROPHANES.) Wings long, and acuminated; first and 

 second quills longest, and nearly equal : hind claw produced, 

 and nearly straight. 



(2. EMBERIZA.) Wings moderate; first quill shorter than the second 

 and third, which are longest: hind claw short and hooked. 



29. FRINGILLA Bill thick, strong, more or less 



perfectly conic : nostrils basal, lateral, partly concealed by 

 short bristly feathers directed forwards : tarsi short, or 



