THE TRUE BUNTINGS. 63 
chiefly at the larger end, but in many cases distributed over 
the egg. Axis, ro-ri inch ; diam., 07-075. 
THE BUNTINGS. SUB-FAMILY EMBERIZINHL 
Avery widely-distributed group of birds, especially developed 
in Northern and Southern America, and likewise spread over 
the greater part of the Old World, but not occurring in the 
Malay Archipelago, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. 
The form of the bill is the best character for separating the 
Buntings from the other Finches, for the angle of the chin is 
very strongly marked and the bill is usually gaping — that is to 
say, there is a distinct gap in the outline of the closed bill. 
Many Buntings have a knob-like protuberance on the palate or 
roof of the mouth. 
THE TRUE BUNTINGS. GENUS EMBERIZA. 
Emberiza , Briss., Orn., iii., p. 257 (1760). 
Type, E. citrinella Linn. 
In the true Buntings, as distinguished from the Long-spurs, 
the hind claw is not strongly developed, and is never longer 
than the hind toe. The wing is scarcely longer than the tail, 
the nostrils are hidden by little bristly plumes, and the tail has 
always a white pattern in it, very conspicuous during flight. 
THE REED-BUNTING. EMBERIZA SCH^ENICLUS. 
Emberiza schceniclus , Linn., S. N., i., p. 311 (1766); Macg., 
Br. B., i., p. 453 (1837); Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 23 
(1876); Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 241, pis. 221-222 (1878) ; 
B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 62 (1883) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. 
Mus., xii., p. 480 (1888); Saunders, Man., p. 211 (1889). 
Adult Male. — Rufous above, streaked with black, and with 
pale edgings to the feathers; lower back and rump ashy 
grey, streaked with black ; scapulars and lesser wing-coverts 
chestnut, the former streaked with black ; head and throat 
black ; under surface of body white, streaked with black on the 
