BAY-WINGED BUNTING. 67 



Having drawn the figure which you will see on referring to the plate, near 

 the sea-shores of New Jersey, where the bird which it represents was shot 

 while walking among little groups of the plant there vulgarly called the 

 prickly pea?', I have represented it also. It shoots up its fleshy stems from 

 among the driest sand, and there flourishes in the greatest perfection and 

 abundance. The flower is destitute of scent, but the fruit is agreeably acid, 

 and is often eaten by children. I have observed a plant of the same genus 

 about the sterile cliffs of the Kentucky river, and in particular near the town 

 of Frankfort, as well as in Louisiana, on Alexander's creek, at which place 

 it grows to a great size. This is probably a distinct species. I have not 

 observed cactuses growing in a wild state in any other part of the Union. 



From Texas to the Columbia river and Fur Countries. Breeds from Ma- 

 ryland eastward and northward. Resident in winter from Carolina south- 

 ward and westward. Extremely abundant. 



Bay-winged Bunting, Emberiza graminea, WiJs. Amer. Orn., vol. iv. p. 51. 



Fringilla graminea, Bonap. Syn., p. 108. 



Fringilla (Zonotrichia) graminea, Bay-winged Finch, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. 



Amer., vol. ii. p. 254. 

 Bay-winged or Grass Finch, Fringilla graminea, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 482. 

 Grass Finch or Bay-winged Bunting, Fringilla graminea, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. i. p. 



473; vol. v. p. 502. 



Adult Male. 



Bill shortish, robust, conical, acute; upper mandible broader than the 

 lower, slightly declinate at the tip, the edges of Jjoth mandibles straight to 

 near the base, where they are a little deflected. Nostrils basal, roundish, 

 open, partially concealed by the feathers. Head rather large. Neck short. 

 Body robust. Legs of moderate length, slender; tarsus of the same length 

 as the middle toe, covered anteriorly with a longitudinal plate above, and a 

 few transverse scuta below; toes scutate above, free, the lateral ones nearly 

 equal; claws slender, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe largest. 



Plumage ordinary, compact. Wings of ordinary length, third and fourth 

 quills longest, first and second little shorter. Tail longish, nearly equal, or 

 slightly forked. 



Bill dark brown on the back of the upper mandible, pale on the sides and 

 below. Iris hazel. Tarsi, toes, and claws flesh-colour. The general colour 

 of the upper parts is light brown, streaked and mottled with darker. Lesser 

 wing-coverts bright reddish-brown or bay, the larger deep brown, edged 

 with pale brown; quills also deep brown, the first margined externally with 

 white. Tail-feathers dark brown, the outer marked with an oblique band of 

 white, including the outer web and part of the inner towards the tip, the next 



