of the Plectrophanes Lapponica. lôy 



that of the more typical species of Emberiza. It possesses, how- 

 ever, the palatial protuberance or knob, a characteristic feature 

 of the latter group ; and its bill is in all respects similar in con- 

 formation to that of the Snow Bunting (Emberiza nivalis Auct.), 

 which by Dr. Latham is placed at the head of his genus Em- 

 beriza. By M. Temminck it is arranged with the Buntings, 

 forming with Emberiza nivalis his second section of that «enus, 



CD O ' 



under the denomination of " Bruants cperonniers." 



The comprehensive and enlightened views adopted by our 

 most eminent naturalists of the present day, in the classification 

 and arrangement of zoological objects, and which, in the de- 

 partment of ornithological science, have been so ably developed 

 by Mr. Vigors, have induced me to separate this species and 

 Fringilla nivalis from the true Buntings, and to assign them a 

 station in accordance with their natural affinities. Jn doing this, 

 I follow the example of two eminent continental ornithologists, 

 MM. Meyer and Vieillot, both of whom have already separated 

 these two species from Emberiza, the one under the generic title 

 of Flectrophanes, the other under that of Passerina. The appro- 

 priate station then, of this genus, I conceive to be intermediate 

 between Alauda and Embeiiza, and forming as it were the me- 

 dium of connexion or passage from one genus to the other. In 

 Alauda it is met by that section of the genus which, in the 

 increasing thickness and form of the bill, shows a deviation 

 from the more typical species, and a nearer approach to the 

 thick-billed Fringillidce ; to this section Alauda calandra, and 

 brachydactyla belong. Its affinity to the Larks is also shown 

 in the form of the feet and production of the hinder claw : 

 this in P. Lapponica is nearly straight, and longer than the toe, 

 resembling in every respect that of many of the true Larks. 

 The habits and manners of the two known species also bear a 

 much greater resemblance to those of the Larks than the Bun- 

 tings. 



