CLAY-COLOURED BUNTING. 
72 
edges direct, the gap-line ascending to beyond the nostrils, afterwards 
straight, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, 
the dorsal line almost straight, the sides rounded ; the edges inflected, the 
tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partially concealed by the feathers. 
Head ovate, of moderate size ; neck short ; body rather slender. Feet of 
moderate length, slender ; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella, 
and two plates behind, meeting so as to form a sharp edge ; toes free, the 
first stronger, the third much longer than the lateral, of which the inner is 
somewhat shorter than the outer ; claws of moderate length, arched, much 
compressed, laterally grooved, acute. 
Plumage soft and blended, on the back rather compact. Wings of mode- 
rate length, rather rounded, the first quills two-twelfths of an inch shorter 
than the second, which is scarcely longer than the third and fourth, the other 
primaries slowly graduated; the secondaries rounded, the inner not elongat- 
ed. Tail long, emarginate, of twelve narrow feathers, of which the middle 
are three-twelfths of an inch shorter than the outer. 
Bill yellow, greyish-brown toward the end. Feet flesh-coloured, claws 
dusky brown. The general colour of the upper parts is light yellowish- 
brown, each feather having a central streak of brownish-black ; the streaks 
on the rump are fainter and more slender. The quills and tail feathers 
greyish-brown, narrowly margined with brownish-white. Over the eye is a 
long band of brownish-white ; the cheeks are pale brown, the sides of the 
neck are very light buff, the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, the sides 
of the body tinged with greyish-brown. 
Length to end of tail 5 r 2 o inches ; bill along the ridge 4 T 4 |-, wing from 
flexure 2 T 5 ; tail 2fv ; tarsus fv ; hind toe flf, its claw -,-Y ; middle toe fk, its 
claw Y 2 ■ 
The Female is similar to the male, but has less yellow on the sides of the 
neck, and. is somewhat smaller. 
Length to end of tail 5 T 2 2 inches ; bill along the ridge 0 ; wing from 
flexure 2 tt ; tail 2 r % ; tarsus T -$ ; hind toe and claw ; middle toe and claw 
8 
T2* 
This species has some resemblance to Emberiza pucilla . from which, 
however, it is easily distinguishable. The bill is longer and much more 
slender, its wings and tail also longer, and the latter more deeply emargi- 
nate. There are none of the reddish-brown tints conspicuous in the Field 
Sparrow, which, moreover, has the gap-line less deflected at the base, and 
has the palate concave, in place of being knobbed. The specimens from 
which the above descriptions have been taken, were procured on the 15th of 
June, 1834, on the Rocky Mountains, by Mr. Townsend. 
