This species forms part of a group more allied to the Buntings than
to the Finches, and composed of HENSLOW1 s Bunting or Finch, the Savannah
Finch, and the Yellow-winged Sparrow. They are all very
closely allied, so that it is somewhat difficult to distinguish them.
Let us compare the Yellow-winged Sparrow in the first place, with
the Henslow Bunting, described at p. 360 of Vol. I.
In HENSLOW1 s Bunting the bill is smaller, and has the margin less
sinuous ; the tarsi are shorter, being only T% (erroneously § in the description),
while those of the present species are f. The feet of the latter
are also stronger, and the toes a little longer. The colouring of the
upper parts is very similar ; but the present species has a distinct white
line along the middle of the head, whereas the other has the same part
of the general olivaceous tint of the hind-neck, the quills are differently
coloured on their margins, and while the present species is unspotted on
the breast and sides, the other is distinctly streaked.
But besides these differences the feathers present others still more decisive.
The tail of HENSLOW'S Bunting is 2 | inches long, graduated,
with narrower feathers, which taper to a point, while that of the Yellowflîd
winged 9d3? Sparrow .Boi'ismA is 'io'Q'ïcJiSCLÊl only b9JBOïfii"*rounded,î') JiiH much •*d) stronger,i o âoo'ii'ï'^ with f as) "-broader
v^*ff (though still very narrow) feathers, having a narrow rounded point. Then
in the first the secondaries are so long as to be only 2
g shorter than the
T
longest primary, whereas in the second they are \ inch shorter. In the
first the third quill is longest, while in the second the first exceeds the
others, although in neither is there any great difference between the first
j
three quills in length.
But the Yellow-winged Sparrow is much more closely allied to the
Savannah Finch than to HENSLOW'S Bunting.
The colouring of the upper parts is almost the same, but the Savannah
Finch has very little of the bright bay tints, and the flexure of the
wing is so slightly tinged with yellow that one might be apt to overlook
it. There is a central whitish streak on the head of the Savannah Finch,
fprirhrr-'r-ortoL. ft dûw «{*£9fl9d .<U'Id jrf'iiil 9¥ftdtt jfofild dstff'wmd. flfffi
as on that of the Yellow-winged Sparrow. The great difference in colouring
lies in the circumstance, that while the throat, breast, and sides of the
latter are unspotted, those of the former are very conspicuously marked
with longitudinal dark brown streaks, margined with reddish-brown.
The bills and feet are of the same form, but the bill of the Savannah
Finch is much less robust, and its feet rather more so. In the Savannah
.p - r x , \ii\ir -'rami recerrri - (\i - train ORIWV . rt» J '
Finch the secondaries are proportionally as long as in the Henslow Bunting,
and the third and fourth quills are longest; whereas in the Yellowwinged
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 TOWN SEND of that city, I cannot dedicate it with
equal propriety to any other individual, and I am happy in thus paying
my tribute of respect to him for his great attainments in ornithology.
TOWNSEND'S BUNTING.
EMBERIZA TOWXSEXDIT.
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, hindtoe
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