FRINGILLID.E — TilK FlxNCllKS. 



483 



Genus LOXIA, Linnjjus. 



iMcia, L1NN.EUS, Syst. Nat. ed. Id, 7oS. ^'l'ylll.', Luxia curvirostra, L.) 

 Curvirosira, "Scopoli, 1777." (Type, L. curviruslm.) 



Gen. Char. Maiulibles niiK'h elongatt'd, coiiipivs.sud and attenuated ; greatly curved 

 or falcate, the points crossing or 

 overlapping to a greater or less 

 degree. Tarsi very short ; claws 

 all very long, the lateral extend- 

 ing beyond the middle of the 

 central ; hind claw longer than 

 its digit. Wings very long and 

 pointed, reaching beyond the mid- 

 dle of the narrow, forked tail. 



Colors reddish in the male. 



Loxia americatia. 



The elongated, compres.sed, 

 falcate-cur\'ed, aud overlap- 

 ping mandililes readily characterize this genus among birds. This feature, 

 however, only Ijelongs to grown specimens, the young having a straight bill, 

 as in other Finches. 



The United States species of Loxia are readily distinguished by the 

 presence of white bands on the wing in leucojitcra and their absence in 

 americana. Neither form, liowever, i.s to be considered as specifically dis- 

 tinct from their European allies. The differences are as follows : — 



Species and Varieties. 



L. curvirostra. Wings du.sky, without white bands. 



1. IJill from forehead, .74 ; wing, 3.90 ; tail, 2.40. Lower mandible much 

 weaker than the upper. Hah. Europe .... var. curvir ostra} 



2. Bill from forehead, .80 or more; wing, 4.00; tail, 2.50. Lower mandible 

 as strong as the upper. Hab. Rocky Mountains of United States, and 

 mountainous regions of Mexico var. mexicana. 



3. Bill from forehead, .60 or less; wing, 3.30; tail, 2.20. Hah. North 

 Anirrica generally ........ var. americana. 



L. leucoptera. Wings deep black, with two broad white bands. 



1. Body and liead pomegranate-red; lilack of scapulars nearly meeting 

 across lower back. Hah. Northern North America ; "Himalayas"; "Ja- 

 pan" ........... var. leucojilei-u. 



2. Body, etc., cinnabar-red ; back nearly wholly red. Hah. Europe. 



var. b if a sciala? 



1 Loxia curvirosira, Linn., Syst. Nat. 299. 

 '^ Loxia bifascu.Ua, Un Sklys-LuN{;cii.\mps, Faune Beige, 76. 

 des Loxiens, 7. 



BONAP. & SCHLEGEL, Mon. 



