186 
EMBERIZINJS. 
Cantatrices, they form an elaborate nest, and generally 
lay about five eggs. The young, at first blind and naked, 
are fed with insects and soft food. Most of these birds 
have a modulated song, which, however, is much inferior 
to that of the Cantatrices. 
FAMILY XXIII. EMBEKIZIN^. EMBEKI- 
ZINE BIRDS, OR BUNTINGS. 
Bill short, stout, conical, pointed ; upper mandible 
smaller and generally narrower, with the dorsal line 
nearly straight, the sides convex, the edges inflected ; 
lower with the angle short and broad, the dorsal line 
nearly straight, the back rounded, the edges sharp and 
involute ; gape-line ascending obliquely for nearly half 
its length, then direct. Internally, the upper mandible 
is very narrow, with a hard, generally oblong, knob, and 
toward the end flat, with three prominent lines ; tongue 
compressed, deep, with two bristly points ; oesophagus di- 
lated into a crop ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach a 
strong, roundish, compressed gizzard, with large muscles, 
and dense, rugous epithelium ; intestine of moderate 
length and width ; coeca very small, cylindrical, adnate. 
Nostrils oblong, in the lower and fore part of the short 
nasal depression. Eyes of moderate size, eyelids fea- 
thered. Aperture of ear rather large. Head rather large, 
ovate, neck short. Tarsi rather short, compressed, with 
seven anterior scutella ; toes moderate, compressed, with 
long scutella ; the first toe strong, the lateral nearly equal, 
third and fourth united at the base ; claws arched, com- 
pressed, acute. Plumage generally blended, but firm ; 
wings of ordinary length, with eighteen quills, the second 
and third longest ; tail moderate or rather long, straight, 
emarginate. 
The Emberizinse, of which two genera occur with us. 
