350 Mr. Swainson on several new groups in OrnithologT/. 



Bill short, conic, entire. Wrings short, rounded ; the first quill 

 spurious and very small ; the third, fourth and fifth, equal and 

 longest. Tail lengthened, graduated. 



Type. Loxia astrild. Linn. 



This, and the preceding genus, appear strictly confined to the 

 warm regions of the old world ; and will detach a vast number 

 of species from the Loxice and Fringilloe of Linnaeus. I have 

 endeavoured in vain to reconcile the different groups of these 

 birds proposed by Brisson, Cuvier, and Vieillot, with any thing 

 like a geographic or a natural arrangement ; and this must be my 

 apology for not adopting either their names or characters ; the 

 first would lead to much confusion, while the latter are artificial. 

 The minute spurious quill, (which I have termed, for the sake 

 of uniformity, the Jirst,) seems to be an unerring indication of 

 an African or Asiatic origin ; and I find the same character in 

 all those I have seen from New Holland. There are a few other 

 forms, belonging to the northern latitudes of Africa and America, 

 which, as being connected with those of Europe, require more 

 study to define their characters than I have yet been able to give 

 them. PloceuSy Vidua^ Estrilda^ and Amadina follow each other 

 in an unbroken series. 



GUIRACA. 



Rostrum crassissimum^ conicum^ emarginatum ; culmine leviter 



arcuato, 

 Ala mediocreSy attenuata ; remige Imd ^dd paulo breviore ; 2^, 



Stidy et 4tdfere asqualibus^ longissimis* 

 Cauda mediocrisy aqualis. 

 Pedes breviusculiy subfortes. 



Bill very thick, conic, emarginate ; culmen slightly curved. 

 Wings moderate,' pointed ; the first quill rather shorter than 

 the second ; the second, third, and fourth nearly equal and 

 longest. Tail moderate, even. Feet short, strong. 



Type. Loxia ccerulea, Wilson, 3. PI. 24. f. 6. 



