TAB. III.
E M B E R I Z A IMPERIALIS.
CHARACTER GENERICUS.
Roßrum conicum.
Mandibuhe bafi deorfum a fe invicem difcedentes: inferiore lateribus inflexo-coariäata, fuperiore
angiilliore. LIN. SYST. NAT. p. ^ 0 8 .
CHARACTER SFECIFICUS.
Emberiza nigra, humeris rubris fafcia alba, remigibus fufcis, cauda longa, rearicibus intermediis
longiflimis.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill conic.
Mandibles feparating from each other from the bafe downwards: the lower mandible bent
inwards on the fides.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &c.
Black Emberiza, with red fhonlders banded with white, brown wing-feathers, long tail, the
intermediate feathers extremely long.
IN the numerous genus Emberiza there are fome particular fpecies which are diftinguiihed by
the exceffive length of their tails, which appear beyond all proportion to the fize of the birds.
Of thefe long-tailed Emberiza: there is perhaps none that equals the bird here reprefented in
this refpeft, (unlefs indeed we except the Emberiza Paradifea of Linnjeus, which feems to have
the moft extravagant tail, in proportion to the fize of the body, of any bird yet known.)
Our prefent fpecies is a native of Africa, and is principally found at the Cape of Good Hope.
The head and whole body are of a deep gloffy black; the tail is alfo of the fame colour: the
wmgs are brown; and the ihoulders, or parts coated by the fmall coverts, are of a rich orangecrimfon,
which is fucceeded by a band of white: the tail confifts of feathers of unequal length;
the middle ones being longeft, and the fide ones (horteft: the beak and legs are dulky-brown!
It IS remarkable that the females of the long-tailed fpecies of this genus are not fiirniflied with
thofe long feathers which fo ftrikingly diftinguiih the males; and even the males, during the
feafon of moulting, caft them, and appear fo different from their former ftate as fcarcely to be
known for the fame birds.