Our figure is that of a male, and is about two-thirds of the natural size.
The plant represented, is Nuttallia digitata, a native of California.
DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS.
Genus Embernagra. Lesson Traité d’Orn, p. 465, (1851.)
Bill, moderate, conic; wings, short, rounded, usually with the fifth and sixth quills slightly longest; tail, lengthened, rounded at the tip; tarsi and toes, lengthened, strong; claws, short, curved. A genus of birds related to Zonotrichia, and containing several species, all of which are American.
Embernagra Blandingiana. (Gambel.) Fringilla Blandingiana. Gamb., Proc. Acad. Philada. I. p. 260, (April, 1843) Fringilla chlorura. Aud. Orn. Biog. V. p. 336?
Form. Rather robust, bill strong, wing short, second, third and fourth quills nearly equal, third slightly longest, tail rather long, legs and feet strong, claws well developed, that on the hind toe large.
Dimensions. Adult. Total length (of skin) from tip of bill to end of tail, about 7 inches; wing, 3⅛; tail, 3¼ inches.
Colors. Head, above, fine rufous chestnut. All other upper parts, yellowish green, tinged with ashy. Throat, white, which color is bordered on each side by a line of ashy black. Sides of the neck, the breast and sides of the body, and flanks, light cinereous, tinged with ochre on the latter and under tail coverts. Middle of the lower part of breast, and of the abdomen, white. Wing, at its flexure and under wing coverts, yellow. Quills and tail-feathers, light greenish yellow on their outer webs.
Hab. California and Texas. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada., and Nat. Mus. Washington.