CLAY-COLOURED BUNTING. 67 



trils, afterwards straight, the tip acute ; lojver mandible with the angle 

 short and rounded, the dorsal line almost straight, the sides rounded ; 

 the edges inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partially 

 concealed by the feathers. 



Head ovate, of moderate size ; neck short ; body rather slender. 

 Feet of moderate length, slender ; tarsus compressed, with seven an- 

 terior scutella, and two plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp 

 edge ; toes free, the first stronger, the third much longer than the late- 

 ral, of which the inner is somewhat shorter than the outer ; claws of 

 moderate length, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute. 



Plumage soft and blended, on the back rather compact. Wings of 

 moderate length, rather rounded, the first quill two-twelfths of an inch 

 shorter than the second, which is scarcely longer than the third and 

 fourth, the other primaries slowly graduated ; the secondaries rounded, 

 the inner not elongated. Tail long, emarginate, of twelve narrow 

 feathers, of which the middle are three-twelfths of an inch shorter 

 than the outer. 



Bill yellow, greyish-brown toward the end. Feet flesh-coloured, 

 claws dusky brown. The general colour of the upper parts is light 

 yellowish-brown, each feather having a central streak of brownish- 

 black ; the streaks on the rump are fainter and more slender. The quills 

 and tail-feathers greyish-brown, narrowly margined with brownish- 

 white. Over the eye is a long band of brownish-white ; the cheeks are 

 pale brown, the sides of the neck are very light buff", the rest of the lower 

 parts greyish-white, the sides of the body tinged with greyish-brown. 



Length to end of tail b^^ inches ; bill along the ridge i| ; wing from 

 flexure 2^^ ; tail 2^^ ; tarsus || ; hind toe ||, its claw ^^ ; middle toe 

 l\, its claw II . 



The Female is similar to the male, but has less yellow on the sides 

 of the neck, and is somewhat smaller. 



Lenth to end of tail b^^ inches ; bill along the ridge ^ ; wing from 

 flexure 2|^ ; tail 2i% ; tarsus f^ ; hind toe and claw ^% ; middle toe 

 and claw i%. 



This species has some resemblance to Fringilla pusilla, from which, 

 however, it is easily distinguishable. The bill is longer and much 

 more slender, its wings and tail also longer, and the latter more deeply 

 emarginate. There are none of the reddish-brown tints conspicuous 



