FBINGILLIB^: FINCHES, BUNTINGS, SPABBOWS, ETC. 



i57 



yellowish, usually black-tipped, but dryiug reddish-bn.\im. Fledgliiit;s : Dark ashy-gray 

 above, and on the fure parts below this color overlaid witli brown, and strealied on the 

 back with dusky; below, from the breast, white; lateral tail-featliers nmstly white; inner 

 secondaries black with brown edging. A very notable bird, inhabiting tlie northern lienii- 

 sphere, breeding in arctic regions, whence migrating south in \'ast flocks with the snow, as if 

 one with these pure crystallizations. Thousands whirl into the U. S. in the fall on the wings 

 of the storm, relieving by their animated presence the desolation of places exposed U< tin- 

 fury of the blast. Soutli regularly only t(j the Nortlicrn States, but often tlie rn\-ing Hocks 

 reach 35°. Nest on the ground in the sphagnum and tussocks of arctic; regions, (jf a gi'cat 

 quantity of grass and moss, lined profusely with feathers : eggs d-0, very variable in size and 

 colur, about 0.90 X O.fiS, white or wliitisli, speckled, veined, bhitched, and marbled with deep 

 browns and neutral tints. 

 73. CENTKO'PHANKS. ((>]■. Kevrpnv, kciifroii, naO, claw; (palvo, phaino, I apjieai'; the hind 

 claw lengtliened and straightened.) LoNOSPUES. Characters ai' PJectrojjharies; hind claw and 

 its digit more developed ; longer than the middle ; bill relatively and absolutely larger, rather 

 '■ I'ringilline " than thoroughly " emberizine," but still with a palatal knob ; no decided nasal 

 ruff, but antrorse plumules in nasal fossae ; a little tuft at base of rictus. Wings less acute, 

 the point formed by lst-3d primaries, 1th abrujjtly shorter; tail emarginate. Sexes very 

 unlike : ,J with a black hood and chestnut cervical (-ollar. C-Jrcgarious, terrestrial. 



..4nalytiis of Adult Males. 



Whole head and throat black ; belly white ; bill yellow ; feet black lapponicus 220 



Crown black; whole under parts fawn-colored : feet flesli-colored jjictus 221 



Crown black ; throat white; belly black or mahogany ; feet dark . oraatus 222 



220. C. lappon'icus. (Lat. toppora'ciis, of Lapponia, La]ip-laii(l. Figs. 43, 221..) L.vpland Lono- 

 SPUR. ^ , in full dress (seldom seen in U. S.) : 

 Whole head, throat and breast jet-black, bor- 

 dered with huffy or whitish, which forms a 

 post-ocular stripe separating black of crown 

 from that of sides of head, sometimes contin- 

 ued to the bill. A broad cervical chestnut col- 

 lar, separated from the black cap by whitish 

 or huffy line and nuchal spot. Upper parts 

 brownish-black completely streaked with bufl' 

 or whitish edges of the feathers ; under parts 

 white, the sides streaked with black. Wings 

 dusky, with pale or brownish edgings of the 

 feathers, but no strong markings. Tail like 

 wings, with large oblique white spaces on 

 outer 3 feathers. Bill yellow, black-tipped. 

 Legs and feet black. Length about 6.50 ; 

 extent 11.25; wing 3.50-3.75; tail 2.50-2.75 ; 

 tarsus 0.75 ; middle toe and claw rather more; 



hind claw about 0.50, slender, sharp, and little curved. $, adult, in winter: The black 1 1 



overcast with brown or gray tips of the feathers, or otherwise imperfect. Chestnut collar also 

 overlaid with gray. Edges of secondaries and wing-coverts ruddy-bri5wn ; sides of flanks 

 washed with brown. White tail-spots less extensive. Yellow of bill obscured. 9 , in breed- 

 ing plumage: Upper parts of body, wings and tail, as in $. No continuous pure black on 

 sides of head, chin, or throat. Cervical collar indicated, but dull and obscured. Black of 

 crown overlaid with gray; superciliary and i)ostocular stripe buffy ; sides of head blackish, 

 overlaid with gray; throat similarly varied, but chin nearly white ; on the whole, the pattern 



Fig. 224. — Lapland Longspur, in summer, reduced. 

 (Sheppard del. Nichols so. ) 



