FKINGILLID^ THE FINCHES. 219 



FAMILY FRINGILLIDJE. THE FINCHES. 



"CHAK. Primaries nine. Bill very short, abruptly conical, and robust. Commissure 

 strongly angulated at base of bill. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly, but the sides with two 

 undivided plates meeting behind along the median line, as a sharp posterior ridge. Eyes 

 hazel or brown, except in Pipilo where they are reddish or yellowish. Nest and eggs 

 very variable as to character and situation. 



"All the United States species may be provisionally divided into 

 four subfamilies (the European House-Sparrow forming a fifth), 

 briefly characterizable as follows : 



"Coccothraustinae. Bill variable, from enormously large to quite small; the base of the 

 upper mandible always provided with a close-pressed fringe of bristly feathers (more or 

 less conspicuous) concealing the nostrils. Wings very long and pointed, usually one 

 half to one third longer than the forked or emarginate tail. Tarsi short. 



"Pyrgitinse [=Passerinse]. Bill robust, swollen, arched above, without distinct ridge. 

 Lower mandible at base narrower than upper. Nostrils covered; side of maxilla with 

 stiff appressed bristles. Tarsi short, not longer than middle toe. Tail shorter than 

 the somewhat pointed wings. Back streaked; under parts not streaked. 



''Spizellinae. Embracing all the plain-colored sparrow-like species marked with 

 longitudinal stripes. Bill conical, always rather small; both mandibles about equal. 

 Tarsi lengthened. Wings and tail variable. Lateral claws never reaching beyond the 

 base of the middle claw. 



"Passerellinae. Sparrow-like species, with triangular spots' beneath. Legs, toes, 

 and claws very stout; the lateral claws reaching nearly to the end of the middle ones. 



"Spizinae. Brightly colored species, usually without streaks. Bill usually very large 

 and much curved; lower mandible wider than the upper. Wings moderately long. Tail 

 variable." (Hist. U. Am. B.) 



SUBFAMILY COCCOTHRAUSTIN'-ffi. THE TRUE FINCHES. 



"CHAK. Wings very long and much pointed; generally one third longer than the 

 more or less forked tail; first quill usually nearly as long as or longer than the second. 

 Tertiaries but little longer, or equal to the secondaries, and always much exceeded by 

 the primaries. Bill very variable in shape and size, the upper mandible, however, as 

 broad as the lower; nostrils rather more lateral than usual; and always more or less 

 concealed by a series of small bristly feathers applied along the base of the upper mandi- 

 ble; no bristles at the base of the bill. Feet short and rather week. Hind claw usually 

 considerably longer than the middle anterior one; sometimes nearly the same size. 



