_Coturniculus_, BONAP. Geog. List, 1838. (Type, _Fringilla
passerina_, WILS.)
[Line drawing: _Coturniculus passerinus._
38741 ♂]
GEN. CHAR. Bill very large and stout, (except in _C. lecontei_); the
under mandible broader, but lower than the upper, which is decidedly
convex at the basal portion of its upper outline. Legs moderate,
apparently not reaching to the end of the tail. The tarsus appreciably
longer than the middle toe; the lateral toes equal, and with their
claws falling decidedly short of the middle claw; the hind toe
intermediate between the two. The wings are short and rounded,
reaching to the base of the tail; the tertiaries almost as long as the
primaries; not much difference in length in the primaries, although
the outer three or four are slightly graduated. The tail is short and
narrow, shorter than the wing (except in _C. lecontei_), graduated
laterally, but slightly emarginate; the feathers all lanceolate and
acute, but not stiffened, as in _Ammodromus_.
This genus agrees with _Passerculus_ in the short and narrow tail. The
wings are much shorter and more rounded; the feet shorter, especially
the middle toe, which is not as long as the tarsus. The tail-feathers
are more lanceolate. The bill is much larger, and more swollen at the
base.
The essential characters of this genus consist in the swollen convex
bill; the short toes, compared with the tarsus; the short and rounded
wings; and the very small, narrow, slightly graduated tail, with its
lanceolate acute feathers (except in the South American _C. manimbe_).
In some respects there is a resemblance to _Ammodromus_, in which,
however, the bill is very much more slender; the wings still shorter,
and more rounded; the tail-feathers much stiffer, and even more
lanceolate; the toes extending beyond the tip of the tail; the middle
toe rather longer than the tarsus, instead of considerably shorter.
_C. lecontei_ has the same general form, but a much smaller bill.
Synopsis of Species.
COMMON CHARACTERS. Crown and back streaked with black upon an ashy,
olive, or chestnut ground; beneath whitish, tinged across the breast
with ochraceous or ashy, plain, or with blackish streaks on the
breast. A light superciliary stripe.
A. Tail-feathers attenuated, acute at ends, much graduated.
On the crown a median light stripe.
_a._ A dusky streak on each side of the throat, and one above
the light ochraceous maxillary stripe.
1. C. henslowi. Bill very robust, .35 along culmen by .30
deep at base. Wing, 2.25; tail, 2.20. Head ochraceous or
greenish olive, lighter on the throat; a blackish stripe on
each side of the crown. Breast streaked with black at all
ages. _Hab._ Eastern Province of United States.
_b._ No dusky streak on side of throat nor above the maxillæ.
2. C. lecontei. Bill very narrow, only .16 broad by .20
deep at base. Median stripe of the crown ochraceous for
anterior third, the remaining part ashy-white; superciliary
stripe wholly ochraceous; edge of wing white; breast
sparsely streaked in the adult. Wing, 2.15; tail, 2.20.
_Hab._ Plains west of the Missouri, from Texas to Dakota.
3. C. passerinus. Bill robust, .23, or more, broad, by
.24, or more, deep at base. Median stripe of the crown
ochraceous throughout; superciliary stripe yellow
anteriorly, ashy posteriorly; edge of wing bright yellow,
breast unstreaked in the adult, streaked in the young, in
which the head stripes are ashy, with no yellow on wing or
over lore.
Colors dark, the black markings predominating above.
_Ad._ Anterior lower parts deep buff at all seasons.
_Juv._ Dusky streaks on breast very distinct. Bill, .33
and .30; wing, 2.60; tail, 1.90. _Hab._ Eastern Province
of United States, and West Indies … var. _passerinus_.
Colors pale, the light markings predominating above.
_Ad._ Buff of the breast scarcely observable in summer.
_Juv._ Dusky streaks on breast scarcely appreciable.
Bill, .33 and .24; wing, 2.60; tail, 1.90. _Hab._ Western
Province of United States … var. _perpallidus_.
B. Tail-feathers broad, rounded at ends; only slightly
rounded. Crown not divided by a median stripe.
4. C. manimbe. Head clear ashy, whitish on throat; crown
uniformly streaked with black. Supra-loral streak and edge
of wing bright yellow. No streaks on breast in adult.
Breast tinged with ashy; black streaks on upper parts
much narrower than the intervening ones of the ashy
ground-color; dorsal feathers rufescent-umber medially,
edged with ashy, and with a shaft-streak of black. Wing,
2.35; tail. 2.00. _Hab._ Brazil … var. _manimbe_.
Breast tinged with ochraceous; black streaks on upper
parts much broader than the ashy ones of the
ground-color; dorsal feathers black, edged with ashy;
wing, 2.25; tail, 1.90. _Hab._ Buenos Ayres and Uruguay …
var. _dorsalis_.
Coturniculus henslowi, BONAP.