432 
U. S. P. K. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
C. Rhynchophanes, Baird. 1 —Bill very large at tlie base; hind claw shorter. No rufous 
nuchal collar. 
Crown black ; shoulders chestnut; beneath white, with a black pectoral crescent. 
P. maccownii. 
The essential characters of the genus, as usually understood, consist in the very long and 
pointed wings ; the moderate, nearly even tail ; the very long, little curved, hind claw. 
Whether the elongated and nearly straight hind claw be not an arbitrary character embracing 
species otherwise dissimilar I do not pretend to decide. Bonaparte considers the P. maccownii , 
so totally distinct from the other species, as to warrant a place in a different family. 
Comparative measurements of species. 
Catal. 
No. 
Species. 
Locality. 
Sex and age. 
Length. 
Stretch of 
wings. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
j Tarsus. 
Middle toe. 
Its claw 
alone. 
Hind toe 
and claw. 
Hind claw 
alone. 
Bill above. 
Along gape. 
Specimen 
measured. 
1889 
6.70 
4.24 
3.07 
0.81 
0.75 
0.25 
0.58 
0.34 
0.43 
0.43 
710? 
6.10 
4.14 
2.84 
0.79 
0.86 
0.28 
0.66 
0 36 
0.40 
0 51 
6701 
6.20 
3.81 
2.73 
0.86 
0.80 
0.26 
0.76 
0.44 
0.44 
0.52 
8246 
50 miles west Fort 
5.60 
3.78 
2.85 
0.85 
0.85 
0.29 
0.79 
0.46 
0.43 
0.49 
8246 
6.12 
10.75 
3.75 
1941 
o 
5.50 
3.40 
2.50 
0.85 
0.45 
0.50 
10254 
6.60 
3.42 
2.73 
0.81 
0.78 
0.20 
0.64 
0.33 
0.40 
0 47 
1907 
s 
5.10 
.3.14 
2.14 
0.76 
0.74 
0.19 
0.72 
0.36 
0.44 
0.46 
4827 
3 
5.10 
3.26 
2.59 
0.73 
0.72 
0.21 
0.72 
0.39 
0.39 
0.54 
9218 
Plectrophanes melano- 
5.50 
3.26 
2.58 
0.73 
0.74 
0 23 
0.41 
0.44 
6292 
3 
5.42 
3.27 
2.36 
0.73 
0.64 
0.16 
0.68 
0.36 
0.40 
0.48 
Skin. 
6290 
5.32 
3.40 
2.62 
0.75 
0.74 
0.20 
0.65 
0.32 
0.37 
0.41 
6193 
9 
5.40 
3.24 
2.41 
0.74 
0.71 
0.18 
0.66 
0.32 
0.40 
0.45 
6282 
Plectrophanes maceow- 
3 
o 
5.50 
3.58 
2.47 
0.81 
0.74 
0.20 
0.60 
0.26 
0.44 
0.62 
Skin. 
6283 
5.42 
3.36 
2.27 
0.76 
0.69 
0.18 
0.64 
0.35 
0.43 
0.53 
Skin ...... 
V 
PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS, Meyer. 
Snow Bunting. 
Emberiza nivalis, L. Syst. Nat. I, 17G6, 308. (Not Fringilla nivalis, L.)— Forster, Phila. Trans. LXII, 1772,403.- 
Wilson, Am.Orn. Ill, 1811, 86 ; pi. xxi.— Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 575 : V, 1839, 496 ; pi. 189. 
Emberiza ( Plectrophanes) nivalis, Bon Obs. 1825, No. 89. 
“ Plectrophanes nivalis, Meyer.”—Bon. List, 1838.— Aud. Syn. 1839, 103 .—Ib. Birds Atner. Ill, 1841, 55; pi. 155. 
Emberiza montana, Gmelin, Syst I, 1788, 867, 25. 
Emberiza mustelina, Gmelin, Syst. I, 1788, 867, 7. 
Emberiza glacialis, Latham, Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 398. 
Sp c h .—C olors, in full plumage, entirely black and white. Middle of back between scapulars, terminal half of primaries and 
tertiaries, and two innermost tail feathers, black ; elsewhere pure white. Legs black at all seasons. In winter dress white beneath ; 
the head and rump yellowish brown, as also some blotches on the side of the breast; middleoi back brown, streaked with black, 
white on wings and tail much more restricted. Length, about 6.75 ; wing, 4.35 ; tail, 3.05 ; first quill longest. 
Hob —Northern America from Atlantic to Pacific ; south into the United States in winter. 
This species varies much in color, and the male in full plumage is seldom if ever seen within 
the limits of the United States. 
1 It is my impression that Bonaparte has proposed a name for this section in removing it to another family, but I am unable 
to find it. 
