in ornithology, a genus of birds, belonging to the order of passerine. The bill is conical, and the mandibles recede from each other towards the base; the inferior mandible has the sides narrowed inwards, but the upper one is still narrower. There are twenty-four species, viz. The nivalis, or great pyed mountain-finch of Ray, and the snow-bird of Edwards, has white-wings; but the outer edge of the prime-feathers are black; the tail is black, with three white feathers on each side. They inhabit Lapland and Hudson's bay, and in hard winters they come into Sweden, when they are totally white. 2. The hyemalis, or snow-sparrow of Catesby, is black above, and the belly is white. It is a native of North America. 3. The miliaris, or grey emberiza, is of a greyish colour, spotted with black in the belly, and the orbits are reddish. It is the bunting of English authors, and a bird of Europe. 4. The hortulana, or ortolan, has black wings; the first three feathers on the tail are white on the edges, only the two lateral are black outwardly. The orbits of the eyes are naked and yellow; the head is greenish, and yellow towards the inferior mandible. It feeds principally upon the panic-grass; grows very fat, and is reckoned a delicate morsel by certain epicures. It is a bird of Europe. 5. The citrinella, or yellow hammer, has a blackish tail, only the two outward side-feathers are marked on the inner edge with a sharp white spot. It is a bird of Europe, and comes about houses in winter; it builds its nest on the ground in meadows. 6. The olivacea, or olive emberiza, is of an olive colour above, whiter below; the nape of the neck is orange-coloured, and it has a black belt across the breast. It is a native of Dominica. 7. The orix, or grenadier of Edwards, is greyish, with the front and belly black, a tawny neck and rump, and a black bill. It is a native of Africa. 8. The quelca, has a grey back, a black front, and a red bill. It is a native of Africa. 9. The capensis, or ortolon of the cape of Good Hope, is greyish, with a white nape of the neck, and a black belt round the orbits and mandibles. It inhabits the Cape of Good Hope. 10. The ludovicia is greyish above, and pale below; the breast is reddish, and there is a black circle on the head. 11. The cia, is reddish, with white eye-brows, and black lines on the head. It is a bird of Europe. 12. The cirrus, is a bird of Europe; it has a greyish back, a spotted breast, and yellowish eye-brows. 13. The familiaris is greyish and spotted; the tips of the tail-feathers are white, and hind part of the back yellow. It is a native of Asia. 14. The flavola, is greyish, with a yellow face; it is about the size of a skink, and is a native of warm countries. 15. The amazona is of a tanny colour, with the crown of the head yellow, and the base of the wings white underneath. It is a native of Surinam. 16. The orizivora, or ortolan of Carolina, is brownish, with a tawny head, and a black belly. It is properly a native of Cuba, but migrates to Carolina about the autumn after the rice is reaped. 17. The schoenicles, or reed-sparrow, has a black head, a blackish-grey body, and a white spot on the quill-feathers. It is a bird of Europe. 18. The pittacus, is of a tawny ash-colour, with yellow wings, and two of the tail-feathers remarkably long. 19. The paradisaea is brownish, with a red breast, and two long sharp-pointed feathers in the tail, and a black bill. It is a native of Africa, and sheds the long feathers of the tail every year, like the peacock. 20. The serena, has a red bill, a black fillet, a red vertex, and a wedge-shaped tail. 21. The vidua, or Indian sparrow of Aldrovandus, is blackish above, and white below, with four very long feathers in the tail, and a red bill. It is a native of India. 22. The principalis, is spotted, with the breast, bill, and legs red. It is a bird of Argola. 23. The regia, has a red bill, four long equal feathers in the tail, and red legs. It is a native of Africa. 24. The ciris, has a blueish head, a yellow belly, and a green back. It is a native of North America.