FRINGILLID^: FINCHES, BUNTINGS, SPARROWS, ETC. 
357 
yellowish, usually black-tipped, but drying reddish-brown. Fledglings : Dark ashy-gray 
above, and on the fore parts below this color overlaid with brown, and streaked on the 
back with dusky ; below, from the breast, white ; lateral tail-feathers mostly white ; inner 
secondaries black with brown edging. A very notable bird, inhabiting the northern hemi- 
sphere, breeding in arctic regions, whence migrating south in vast 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 to the 
fury of the blast. South regularly only to the Northern States, but often the roving flocks 
reach 35°. Nest on the ground in the sphagnum and tussocks of arctic regions, of a great 
quantity of grass and moss, lined profusely with feathers : eggs 4-G, very variable in size and 
color, about 0.90 X 0.65, white or whitish, speckled, veined, blotched, and marbled with deep 
browns and neutral tints. 
73. CENTRO'PHANES. (Gr. Kevrpnv, Jcentron, nail, claw; 0aiVo, liliaino, I appear; the hind 
claw lengthened and straightened.) LoNGSPURS. Characters o£ Plectrophanes; hind claw and 
its digit more developed ; longer than the middle ; bill relatively and absolutely larger, rather 
fringilline than thoroughly emberizine," but still with a palatal knob ; no decided nasal 
ruff", but antrorse plumules in nasal fossa? ; a little tuft at base of rictus. Wings less acute, 
the point formed by lst-3d primaries, 4th abruptly shorter; tail emarginate. Sexes very 
unlike : ^ with a black hood and chestnut cervical collar. Gregarious, terrestrial. 
Analysis of Adult Males. 
Whole head and throat black ; belly white ; bill yellow ; feet black lapponicus 220 
Crown black ; whole under parts fawn-colored ; feet flesh-colored inctus 221 
Crown black ; throat white ; belly black or mahogany ; feet dark ornatus 222 
220. C. lappon'icus. (Lat. Zajjpow/cMS, of Lapponia, Lapp-land. Figs. 43, 224.) Lapland Long- 
spur, in full dress (seldom seen in U. S.) : 
Whole head, throat and breast jet-black, bor- 
dered with buff'y 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 buffy line and nuchal spot. Upper parts 
brownish -black completely streaked with buff 
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 n.25 ; iving 3.50-3.75 ; tail 2.50-2.75 ; fig. 224. - Lapland Longspur, in summer, reduced, 
tarsus 0.75 ; middle toe and claw rather more; (Sheppard del. Nichols sc.) 
hind claw about 0.50, slender, sharp, and little curved. $, adult, in winter: The black hood 
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-brown; 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 postocular stripe buff'y ; sides of head blackish, 
overlaid with gray; throat similarly varied, but chin nearly white; on the whole, the patten^ 
