278 INSESSORES. PLECTROPHANES. 



GENUS PLECTROPHANES, MEYER. 

 LARK BUNTING. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



Bill short, thick, conical ; culmen rounded; tip compressed. 

 Base of the upper mandible extending upon the forehead, 

 and forming an angle. Tomia of both mandibles slightly 

 bending inwards ; gape forming an angle. Upper mandible 

 smaller than the lower one, with a round palatial knob. 

 Nostrils basal, oval, nearly hidden from view by incumbent 

 small plumes. Wings long, acuminate ; the first and se- 

 cond quills of nearly equal length, and the longest in the 

 wing. Legs having the tarsi of mean length. Front toes 

 divided ; and the side ones of nearly equal length. Hind toe 

 strong; with the claw produced, and nearly straight. 



The Snow-Flake (Emberiza nivalis of authors) was first 

 separated from the true Buntings by MEYER, in accordance 

 with the variation of character exhibited in the form of the 

 bill, wings, and feet ; as well as the decided difference obser- 

 vable in its economy and habits. Two other species have since 

 been added to it, viz. PlecL Lapponica (SELBY), formerly 

 known as Frmgilla lapponica (LATHAM) ; and Plectroph. 

 PictaJ a new species from North America, described in the 

 second volume of " Northern Zoology." 



In the form of the bill, these birds make a near approach 

 to the Buntings, but that organ is comparatively shorter, the 

 cutting edges scarcely so much intracted, and the palatial 

 knob rounder and less prominent. The wings are also 

 better calculated for extensive flight, being long and acu- 

 minate, and having the first quill feather the longest instead 

 of the third. Their feet also are formed like those of the 

 Larks, adapted for running upon the ground, and not for 

 perching ; and the hind claw, as in those birds also, is long 



