Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/219

Rh ing, and the third and fourth quills are longest ; whereas in the Yellow- winged Sparrow the first is longest, and in the Henslow Bunting the third.

Having in my possession a fine specimen of a new species allied to the above, but still more decidedly an Emberiza, I embrace this opportunity of describing it. The species having been discovered, in the vicinity of Philadelphia, by Dr Townsend of that city, I cannot dedicate it VNith equal propriety to any other individual, ; nd I am happy in thus paying my tribute of respect to him for his great attainments in ornithology.

In form this species is compact and rather robust, like the common Sparrow of Europe, or the Black- throated Bunting of America. The bill is short, strong, conical, compressed, acute ; the upper mandible narrower, with its dorsal line a little convex, as is that of the lower, the edges of both inflected, and the gap-line declinate at the base. Nostrils roundish, basal. Feet of ordinary length and thickness, the tarsus with seven anterior scutella, and two lateral plates meeting behind so as to form an edge; lateral toes equal, the outer united as far as the second joint, hind-toe strong ; claws arched, compressed, acute, with a lateral groove.

The wings are short, the first quill longest, the next scarcely shorter, the rest graduated, the second, third, and fourth, very slightly cut out on the outer web towards the end, the secondaries rounded, the outer slightly emarginate. Tail of moderate length, and slightly emarginate. The plumage is soft and rather compact.

Bill brownish-black above, light blue beneath, with a longitudinal black line from the tip half way to the base. Iris light hazel. Feet and claws dusky brown. Head above deep bluish-grey, streaked with black ; the cheeks, hind-neck, sides of the neck, fore part of the breast, and the sides of the same colour, becoming paler backwards. Back bluish-grey, each feather with a narrow dark brown central streak bordered with light brown, the margins grey ; the rump grey, without streaks. Quills and