186 EMBERIZIN^. 



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. EMBERIZIK&. EMBERI- 

 ZINE BIRDS, OR 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 ; coeca 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 scutell^ ; 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 Emberizinse, of which two genera occur with us, 



