GEN. CHAR. Bill rather large, much swollen at the base; the culmen broad, gently but decidedly curved; the gonys nearly straight; the commissure much angulated near the base, then slightly sinuated; lower mandible nearly as deep as the upper, the margins much inflected, and shutting under the upper mandible. Nostrils small, strictly basal. Rictus quite stiffly bristly. Legs large and stout. Tarsi a little longer than the middle toe; outer toe rather longer than the inner, and reaching to the concealed base of the middle claw; hind toe reaching to the base of the middle claw; hind claw about as long as its toe. Claws all strong, compressed, and considerably curved. Wings long and pointed; the first four nearly equal, and abruptly longest; the tertials much elongated, as long as the primaries. Tail a little shorter than the wings, slightly graduated; the feathers rather narrow and obliquely oval, rounded at the end. _Color._ _Male_, black, with white on the wings. _Female_, brown above, beneath white, with streaks. [Illustration: PLATE XXIX. 1. Poocætes gramineus. D. C., 10147. 2. Calamospiza bicolor. ♂ Neb., 5720. 3. ” ” ♀ N. Mex., 6306. 4. Guiraca cærulea. ♂ Philada., 6480. 5. ” ” ♀ Cal. 6. Cyanospiza parellina. ♂ N. Leon, Mex., 4074. 7. ” ciris. ♂ Texas, 6271. 8. ” ciris. ♀. 9. ” versicolor. ♂ N. Leon, Mex., 4075. 10. ” ” ♀ C. St. Lucas, 12984. 11. ” amœna. ♂ Ft. Union, Dak., 1898. 12. ” ” ♀ Nevada, 53551. 13. ” cyanea. ♂ Pa., 2645. 14. ” ” ♀ Ga., 32426. 15. Phonipara zena. ♂ Bahamas. 16. ” ” ♀ ” 17. Spermophila moreleti. ♂ Costa Rica, 30524.] [Illustration: _Calamospiza bicolor._] This genus is well characterized by the large swollen bill, with its curved culmen; the large strong feet and claws; the long wings, a little longer than the tail, and with the tertials as long as the primaries; the first four quills about equal, and abruptly longest; the tail short and graduated. The only group of North American _Spizellinæ_, with the tertials equal to the primaries in the closed wing, is _Passerculus_. This, however, has a differently formed bill, weaker feet, the inner primaries longer and more regularly graduated, the tail-feathers more acute and shorter, and the plumage streaked brownish and white instead of black. Calamospiza bicolor, BONAP. LARK BUNTING; WHITE-WINGED BLACKBIRD.