INTRODUCTION. xvii 
the third or fifth the longest in the wing. Tail moderate, square or forked. 
Tarsus scutellated in front, covered at the sides by a single plate ; toes stout ; 
claws moderately curved, rather short (p. 195). 
Loxia, Zznneus.—Bill hard, strong, thick at the base, much compressed towards 
the tip, the lower mandible curving upwards and its point crossing that of 
the upper mandible. Nostrils round, basal, hidden by thick projecting 
bristly plumes. Wings long, pointed; the first primary very small but 
visible, the second generally the longest. Tail short, forked. Tarsus short 
and stout, scutellated in front ; toes short ; claws moderately curved (p. 201). 
Subfamily EMBERIZINA, 
Angle of the lower mandible strongly marked, and a distinct gap in the outline 
of the closed bill. 
EmBEriza, L¢zzeus.—Bill hard, conical and short; the upper mandible not 
wider than the lower, the edges of both inflected and those of the latter 
gradually cut away ; the palate generally furnished with a projecting bony 
knob. Nostrils oval, basal, and placed somewhat near the culmen, partly 
hidden by small feathers. Gape angular. Wings moderate ; first primary 
minute, second, third and fourth nearly equal. Tail rather long and slightly 
forked. Tarsus scutellated in front, covered at the sides with an undivided 
plate forming 9 sharp ridge behind, almost as long as the middle toe ; claws 
considerably curved, that of the hind toe of moderate length (p. 205). 
Catcarius, Bechstein. — Bill with considerably inflected cutting edges ; claws of 
the front toes short and slightly curved; hind claw nearly straight and 
elongated ; other characters much as in the previous genus (p. 223). 
PLECTROPHENAX, Stejneger.—Bill with the upper mandible narrower than the 
lower, the edges of both inflected and those of the latter sinuated ; the 
palate furnished with a projecting bony knob. Nostrils as in Amderdza. 
Wings long and pointed ; the first primary minute, second and third nearly 
equal and the longest in the wing, but the fourth considerably longer than 
the fifth. Tail moderate and slightly forked. Tarsus about as long as the 
middle toe. Front claws rather long and curved; hind claw considerably 
curved and elongated (p. 225). 
Family STURNID. 
Sturnus, Lzzeus.--Bill as long as the head, almost straight, blunt at the tip, 
depressed so as to be wider than high ; edges of the upper mandible extend- 
ing over those of the lower, and both quite smooth. Nostrils basal and partly 
covered by an operculum. Gape angular and free from bristles. Feathers 
of the head and anterior part of the body pointed and elongated. Wings 
long, pointed, with ten primaries ; the first minute and attenuated, the second 
and third nearly equal and the longest. Tail short, the feathers diverging at 
the tip. Tarsus scutellated in front, covered at the sides by an undivided 
plate, forming a sharp ridge behind; claws short and moderately curved 
(p. 227). 
Pastor, Zemminck.—Bill moderate, convex above, straight beneath, compressed, 
the upper mandible notched and slightly decurved. Nostrils basal, partly 
closed by a membrane covered with small feathers. Feathers on the crown 
b 
