470 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The eggs of this bird vary from four to six in number, and are of a pale blue 

 which readily fades into a bluish-wliite, and arc marlved with spots and lines 

 of a dark brown or black. They are of an elongate-oval shape, and measure 

 . from .82 to .75 of an iucli in length, with an average breadth of .60. 



Genus CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie. 



Chnjaomiirls, BoiE, Isis, 1S23, 322. (Type, Frbujilla spinus, LlNX.) 

 AstnKjalinits, Cab. JIus. Hein. 1S51, 159. (Type, Fringilla tristis, Lixx.) 

 Hijpam^Uhiis, Cab. Mus. Heiii. 1S51, 101. (Type, Cardaelk spimidcs.) 



Gen. Char. Bil 



rather acutely conic, the tip not very sharp ; the cuhnen slightly convex 

 at the tip ; the commissure gently curved. 

 Nostrils concealed. Obsolete ridges on the 

 upper mandible. Tarsi shorter than the 

 middle toe ; outer toe rather the longer, 

 reaching to the base of the middle one. 

 Claw of hind toe shorter than the digital 

 portion. Wings and tail as in jEgiothus. 



The colors are generally yellow, with 

 black on tlie crown, throat, back, wings, 

 and tail, varied sometimes with white. 



The females want the bright markings 

 amjsomiiris irisiis. of the male. 



This genus differs from ^Egiotlms in a less acute and more curved bill, a 

 much less development of tlie bristly featliers at tlie base of the bill, the 

 claw of the hind toe slujrter tliau its digital portion, the claws shorter and 

 less curved and attenuated, and the outer lateral toes not extending beyond 

 the base of the middles claw. 



The species exhibit many diflerences among tliemselves, especially in tlie 

 size and shape of the bill, which have been made tlio basis of generic dis- 

 tinctions. Tliey may Ije distinguished as follows : — 



Species and Varieties. 



A> No streaks anywhere on plumage ; base of tail-feathors black or white. 

 Sexes dissimilar. (Chnjsomitris.) 

 a. No yellow on the wings. 



1. C. tristis. Inner webs of tail-feathers .always whitish termin.ally 

 (except in Juv.). ^. Forehead and crown, wings and tail, deep black ; 

 rest of plumage, including the back, rich lemon-ycUow ; tail-coverts 

 white. 9 . Body grayish above, dingy whitish beneath, stained with 

 yellow ; no black on head ; wings and tail duller black. Juv. Fulvous- 

 umber above, with markings of reddish-ochraceous on the wings ; be- 

 neath, dilute-yellow w.a,shed with fulvou.':. TTah. Whole of temperate 

 and warm North America. 



2. C. psaltria. Inner webs of tail-feathers never whitish terminally. 

 <J. Beneath yellow, including the lower tail-coverts ; above black, with 

 or without olive-green on the back. 9 • Without any black, the yellow 

 duller. 



