62 



TOWNSEND'S BUNTING. 



Emberiza Townsendii, Jlud. 



PLATE CLVII Male. 



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

 row of Europe, or the Black-throated Bunting of our country. 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 in- 

 flected, and the gap-line declinate at the base. Nostrils roundish, 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 emar- 

 ginate. 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 tail wood-brown, 

 slightly edged with paler, wing-coverts light brown, the central parts of the 

 feathers darker. There is a narrow white line over the eye, and the minute 

 feathers margining the eyelids are of the same colour. The throat and fore- 

 neck are white. A line of short brownish-black streaks passes on either side 

 from the base of the lower mandible, separating a narrow portion of the 

 white space, and margining the lower part of it, although there the streaks 

 are scattered; the middle part of the breast and abdomen are also greyish- 

 white. 



Length 5f inches, extent of wings 9; bill along the ridge ^; tarsus \%. 



Towxsend's Bunting, Emberiza Townsendii, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 183; vol. v. p. 

 90. 



