BIRDS—FRINGILLIDAE—PLECTROPHANES. 
431 
The only specimen before me of this excessively rare species was taken in winter, when the 
colors may he less brilliant than in spring. The wing is very much pointed ; the first three 
primaries considerably longer than the fourth. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. 
Locality. 
When collected. 
Whence obtained. 
3701 
Salt Lake City, Utah_ 
March 21,1850. 
Captain Stansbury_ 
PLECTROPHANES, Meyer. 
Plectroplianes, Meyer, “ Taschenbuch, 1810.” Agassiz. Type Emberiza nivalis. 
Centrophanes, Kaup, “ Entw. Gesch. Europ Thierwelt, 1829,” Agassiz. Type E. lapponica. 
Ch. —Bill variable ; conical; the lower mandible higher than the upper ; the sides of both mandibles (in the typical species) 
guarded by a closely applied brush of stiffened bristly feathers directed forwards, and in the upper jaw concealing the nostrils ; 
the outlines of the bill nearly straight, or slightly curved ; the lower jaw considerably broader at the base than the upper, and 
wider than the gonys is long. Tarsi considerably longer than the middle toe ; the lateral toes nearly equal, (the inner claw 
largest,) and reaching to the base of the middle claw. The hinder claw very long ; moderately curved and acute ; considerably 
longer than its toe ; the toe and claw together reaching to the middle of the middle claw, or beyond its tip. Wings very long 
and much pointed, reaching nearly to the end of the tail ; the first quill longest, the others rapidly graduated ; the tertiaries a 
little longer than the secondaries. Tail moderate, about two-thirds as long as the wings ; nearly even, or slightly emarginated. 
In tbis group there is considerable diversity in the species as respects the size and shape of 
the bill and claws. In the P. nivalis the bill is very small and short, the lower mandible 
higher than the upper, the sides of the bill conpicuously margined by appressed bristly feathers; 
the hind toe with its claw is rather shorter than the middle one. In P. lapponicus the bill is 
larger and longer ; the hind claw much longer than its toe, and with it reaching beyond the 
middle claw. P. ornatus has the hind toe (without the claw,) proportionally longer than in the 
last; the claw rather shorter; the two together, however, longer than the middle toe and claw. 
In P. maccownii again the bill is much larger and stouter ; the hind toe and claw rather shorter 
than in the latter, and about as long as the middle one. Unless all be thrown into one genus, 
it will be difficult to get along with less than three, instead of the two hitherto adopted by 
systematic writers. 
The males of the species are all strongly marked, but the females resemble the streaked 
sparrows very closely. They are either white, with black back, as in P. lapponicus , or else 
streaked on the back ; the head striped with white and black ; the under parts white with a 
large black patch on the throat or breast. All have the outer tail feathers white. The species 
may be arranged as follows : 
A. Plectrophanes, Meyer.—Bill very small. Hind toe not longer than the middle one. 
White; middle of back, inner tail feathers, and ends of wing quills, black. ...P. nivalis. 
B. Oentrophanes, Kaup.—Bill more elongated but rather slender. Hind toe longer than 
the middle one. Neck with a chestnut collar behind ; hood black. 
Chin and throat black; belly white; legs black. P. lapponicus. 
Entirely buff beneath ; legs flesh color... P. pictus. 
Bill slenderest; chin and throat white; entire breast black; shoulders brown.. P. ornatus. 
Similar to the last; shoulders black. '. . P. melanomus. 
