CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 537 



Family FRINGILLIDJE. 



Finches. 



A very large family. "One-eighth of all the North American birds 

 are Fringillidce." Jordan. "Any one locality of average attractive- 

 ness to birds has a bird fauna of over two hundred species, and if it 

 be away from the sea-coast and consequently uninhabited by marine 

 birds, about one- fourth of the species are Sylvicolidce and Fringillidce 

 together, the latter somewhat in excess of the former." Coues. 



All are granivorous, feeding on seeds, and occasionally berries and 

 insects. Nearly all sing; most are plain, but a few are brilliant of 

 plumage. The bill is short, thick and conical, with the " corners of 

 the mouth drawn down," as in the more slender-billed Icteridce. 



PINICOLA, Vieill. 

 P. enucleator canadensis, Cab. American Pine Grosbeak. 



Male chiefly red ; white wing bars ; female brownish yellow 

 on head and rump. Length, 8J inches ; tail, 4 inches. North- 

 ern form, coming south to northern United States in winter. 



" Twice has been seen by the author in winter, but is a rare 

 visitant. Those seen by the author were in cedar trees." 

 [C. C. A.] 



CARPODAOUS, Kaup. 

 C. purpureus, Gmel. Purple Finch. 



Tail feathers rounded and soft, none white ; male flushed with 

 red, most intense on head and neck, fading below and behind ; 

 female olive brown, with no red ; bill stout. Length, 6 inches ; 

 tail, 2| inches. 



" Quite common. Irregularly abundant. Prefers hillsides 

 with a southern exposure, and during the winter is found gen- 

 erally in small flocks. Inoffensive." 



LOXIA, L. 



(Curvirostra.) 



L. curvirostra minor, Brehm. (Curvirostra americana Abbott's Cata- 

 logue). Red Crossbill. American Crossbill. 



Points of mandibles crossed, reddish ; male brick red, wings 

 unmarked ; female brownish olive. Length, 6 inches ; tail, 2| 

 inches. 



