NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 389 



forming two conspicuous transverse bands across the wings. The tail is 

 brownish black, like the wings, quite broadly edged with white ; and is com- 

 paratively as well as absolutely longer than in other species. The entire 

 under parts, from the throat, together with the rump, are pure white, entirely 

 without spots or streaks ; the breast and rump having a light rosy tinge. The 

 feet are brownish black; remarkably long and stroug for this genus, exceed- 

 ing in this respect those of any other species. The claws are all long, strong, 

 greatly curved and very acute. That of the middle toe nearly or quite equals 

 its digit, and that of the hind toe much exceeds it. 



The entire plumage in this species is of a thick, soft, mollipilose character, 

 enabling it to endure the rigors of winter in very high latitudes. 



Variations by age, sex, c. Immature birds, though preserving the general 

 characteristics and appearance of the adults, differ in several respects. The 

 changes are entirely analogous to those adverted to under A. exilipes. The 

 pure white edgings of the feathers of the upper parts and wings become 

 tinged with yellowish, more or less intense, especially about the head and 

 neck, where there is a general buffy suffusion. This yellowish sometimes be- 

 comes very bright and conspicuous. The crimson on the crown is restricted 

 to a patch extending scarcely half way to the occiput. The nasal plumuli 

 and the front are more yellowish, and the dusky lores and gular spot more 

 restricted. The bill is yellowish, except along the culmen and gonys. There 

 is little or no indication of the rosy on the breast and rump, which, instead, 

 are sparsely streaked with narrow lines of dusky. 



According to Holboll, the summer plumage differs from that of winter, 

 chiefly by the narrower whitish edgings of the feathers. The bill is entirely 

 dusky, except along the cutting edges, and very thick, being as broad as high. 

 The old females, and the young males after the first month, differ from the 

 adult males in winter plumage in the entire absence of the rosy on the breast 

 and rump, and in the less purity of the white beneath, the sides being lightly 

 streaked. 



Without a sufficiently extensive series of skins, I am unable to present the 

 variations in size, proportions, &c, to which this species is subject. As, how- 

 ever, neither Temminck nor Holboll, as far as I can discover, make mention of 

 them, it is to be presumed that the species is subject to no very remarkable 

 deviations in these respects. 



Comparison with allied species. This species, in its large size, strong feet and 

 claws, general light colors, white rump, &c, is too distinct to require compari- 

 son, except perhaps with A. exilipes. The differences will be found detailed 

 under the head of the latter. 



Discussion of synonym!/. We have not been able to find where Linaria canes - 

 cens is first characterized ; but, as Bonaparte, in 1838, gives a Linota canescens, 

 the species must have been introduced at least as early as that date. The date 

 of Linota Ilornemanni is 1843 ; and the latter consequently loses the priority 

 claimed for it by Holboll. 



The Fringilla borealis of Temminck (but not of Vieillot) is undoubtedly the 

 present species. The diagnosis and the very full description are accurate and 

 pertinent, although the dimensions given ("longueur, cinq pouces"), is below 

 the usual standard. But, while the description is thus applicable to the pre- 

 sent species, the author evidently either considers his bird as quite a different 

 one, viz., the common linaria of Europe and America, or else is in error with 

 regard to the names he quotes as synonyms. For, in giving the synonymy 

 he says : " C'est dans l'une ou l'autre de ces livrees tres variables suivant la 

 saison, la Fringilla linaria des auteurs tant anciens que modernes, qui ont sou- 

 vent confondu les deux especes." He then quotes as synonymous, " La 

 Fringille sizerin," Vieill. (Gal. Ois. 78, pi. 65), and " Le Sizerin boreal," Roux. 

 (Orn. Prov. 165, pis. 101 and 102), both of which refer to the true Fringilla 

 linaria of Linnaeus. He also, in a note under F linaria, while insisting on the 



1861.] 



