YELLOW- WINGED SPARROW. 183 



ing, and the third and fourth quills are longest ; whereas in the Yellow- 

 winged Sparrow the first is longest, and in the Henslow Bunting the 

 third. 



Having in my possession a fine specimen of a new species allied to the 

 above, but still more decidedly an Emberiza, I embrace this opportunity 

 of describing it. The species having been discovered, in the vicinity of 

 Philadelphia, by Dr Townsend of that city, I cannot dedicate it VNith 

 equal propriety to any other individual, ; nd I am happy in thus paying 

 my tribute of respect to him for his great attainments in ornithology. 



TOWNSEND'S BUNTING. 



Emberiza Townsendit- 



In form this species is compact and rather robust, like the common 

 Sparrow of Europe, or the Black- throated Bunting of America. The bill 

 is short, strong, conical, compressed, acute ; the upper mandible narrower, 

 with its dorsal line a little convex, as is that of the lower, the edges of 

 both inflected, and the gap-line declinate at the base. Nostrils round- 

 ish, basal. Feet of ordinary length and thickness, the tarsus with seven 

 anterior scutella, and two lateral plates meeting behind so as to form an 

 edge ; lateral toes equal, the outer united as far as the second joint, hind- 

 toe strong ; claws arched, compressed, acute, with a lateral groove. 



The wings are short, the first quill longest, the next scarcely shorter, 

 the rest graduated, the second, third, and fourth, very slightly cut out on 

 the outer web towards the end, the secondaries rounded, the outer slightly 

 emarginate. Tail of moderate length, and slightly emarginate. The 

 plumage is soft and rather compact. 



Bill brownish-black above, light blue beneath, with a longitudinal 

 black line from the tip half way to the base. Iris light hazel. Feet and 

 claws dusky brown. Head above deep bluish-grey, streaked with black ; 

 the cheeks, hind-neck, sides of the neck, fore part of the breast, and the 

 sides of the same colour, becoming paler backwards. Back bluish-grey, 

 each feather with a narrow dark brown central streak bordered with light 

 brown, the margins grey ; the rump grey, without streaks. Quills and 



