. On the natural history and classification of birds . Emberyza), and long-heels (Plectrophanes, J are wellknown to every ornithologist whois acquainted with these sparrows (Pyrgita), as beingthat genus which borders uponthe tanagrine circle, is that onlywhich has the upper mandible slightly notched, and theculmen rather more curved than the gonys (fig. I69.)*So little attention has been hitherto paid to these birds,either by collectors abroad, or naturalists at home,that comparatively very few species are yet great similarity of plumage which runs throughthem has perplexe
. On the natural history and classification of birds . Emberyza), and long-heels (Plectrophanes, J are wellknown to every ornithologist whois acquainted with these sparrows (Pyrgita), as beingthat genus which borders uponthe tanagrine circle, is that onlywhich has the upper mandible slightly notched, and theculmen rather more curved than the gonys (fig. I69.)*So little attention has been hitherto paid to these birds,either by collectors abroad, or naturalists at home,that comparatively very few species are yet great similarity of plumage which runs throughthem has perplexed our systematists, while the dulnessof their colours has deterred the professional collectorfrom transmitting them to Europe as articles of it is that we cannot, as yet, point out, withany degree of certainty, the subgenera. Not so,however, with the genus Fringilla, of which we haveventured to designate four of the types, namely, Frin-gilla, properly so called; Zonotrichia, the Americanchaffinches; Ammodramus, the sandfinches; and Chon-. 124 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. destes, the cornflnches. The fifth ■ type is probably re-presented by the Fring. Iliaca of Wilson, (pi. 22. f. 4.)The discovery of a most singular bird from the interior ofBrazil^ having the general structure of Ammodramus,but with the bill of Emberyza, establishes the passagefrom the chaffinches to the buntings: this subgenus wehave named Leptonyoc. We long suspected that thebuntings of Asia and Africa formed a distinct group fromthose of Europe; and we have now separated them,under the name of Fringillaria. Of Plectrophanes, thereare only three or four species, the most beautiful of whichis that which has been figured* under the name ;while the best known is the snow bunting of Amerieaand Europe. We have recently procured a specimenof a very curious African bird, termed a Ploceus, byDr. Ruppell, but which evidently belongs to this sub-family: its characters, however, particularly in
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