186 



Cantatrices, they form an elaborate nest, and generally 

 lay about five eggs. The young, at first blind and naked, 

 are fed with insects and soft food. Most of these birds 

 have a modulated song, which, however, is much inferior 

 to that of the Cantatrices. 



FAMILY XXIII. EMBEEIZIN^E. EMBERI- 

 ZINE BIRDS, OK BUNTINGS. 



Bill short, stout, conical, pointed ; upper mandible 

 smaller and generally narrower, with the dorsal line 

 nearly straight, the sides convex, the edges inflected ; 

 lower with the angle short and broad, the dorsal line 

 nearly straight, the back rounded, the edges sharp and 

 involute ; gape -line ascending obliquely for nearly half 

 its length, then direct. Internally, the upper mandible 

 is very narrow, with a hard, generally oblong, knob, and 

 toward the end flat, with three prominent lines ; tongue 

 compressed, deep, with two bristly points ; oesophagus di- 

 lated into a crop ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach a 

 strong, roundish, compressed gizzard, with large muscles, 

 and dense, rugous epithelium ; intestine of moderate 

 length and width ; cceca very small, cylindrical, adnate. 

 Nostrils oblong, in the lower and fore part of the short 

 nasal depression. Eyes of moderate size, eyelids fea- 

 thered. Aperture of ear rather large. Head rather large, 

 ovate, neck short. Tarsi rather short, compressed, with 

 seven anterior scutella ; toes moderate, compressed, with 

 long scutella ; the first toe strong, the lateral nearly equal, 

 third and fourth united at the base ; claws arched, com- 

 pressed, acute. Plumage generally blended, but firm ; 

 wings of ordinary length, with eighteen quills, the second 

 and third longest ; tail moderate or rather long, straight, 

 emarginate. 



The Emberizinee, of which two genera occur with us* 



