140 
BRITISH BIRDS® 
OF THE BUNTING. 
The principal difference between this fpecies and 
the laft confifts in the formation of the bill, which 
in the Bunting is of a very fmgular conftru&ion. 
The two mandibles are moveable, and the edges of 
each bend inwards ; the opening of the mouth is 
not in a freight line as in other birds, but at the 
bafe the junction is formed by an obtufe angle in 
the lower mandible, nearly one third of its length, 
which is received by a correfponding angle in the 
upper one ; in the laf; there is a hard knob, of 
great ufe in breaking the harder kinds of feeds and 
kernels, on which it feeds. The tongue is narrow, 
and tapers to a point like a tooth-pick ; the firil 
joint of the outer toe is joined to that of the mifU 
die one. 
