FRWGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 



485 



In the intensity, as well as the sliade of the red in the males, there is a 

 great range of variatiou. Generally it is of a tint almost precisely like 

 that of L. curvirostra, though deeper. The most highly colored specimen 

 is 54,79.5, Philadelphia (J. H. Mcllvaiue), which is entirely continuous deep 

 tile-red, apjiroaching vermilion on the rump. The abdomen and crissum 

 are liglit pinkish. In No. 31,459, Fort liae, April, the red is of a curious 

 and very unusual purplish wine-red shade. 



The average of western specimens, particularly those from the northwest 

 coast of the United States, have bills scarcely larger than in the average of 

 eastern examples; thus, 18,u;i7, Fort Crook, N". Cal., has the bill of the same 

 size as No. 5,803, Philadelphia, while No. 53,482, East Humboldt ^louutaius, 

 has the bill smaller than any other in the collection. 



In color, there are scarcely any tangible diffei'ences between the Eunipean 

 Loxia curvirostra and the two American varieties, the distinctive character 

 being in the form of the bill and the size ; the C. mexicana is the largest of 

 the three, and the bill is cpiite peculiar in form, the lower mandible almost 

 equalling the upper in length, and exceeding it in thickness. Z. curvirostra 

 is slightly smaller, and has the lower mandible much smaller and less power- 

 ful than the upper, being inferior to it Ijoth in length, breadth, and thickness. 

 The colors also appear to be rather less intense than in C. mccicana. 



The C. amcricana is in every way, the bill especially, smaller than either 

 of tlie preceding. The lower mandible, although but slightly shorter than 

 the upper, is still much weaker, as in the European bird. The majority of 

 M'estern birds have the bill but slightly larger than eastern, and most of 

 those with large bills are only intermediate between amcricana and mexi- 

 cana. In some specimens the ' bill, although almost equalling in length 

 that of the latter, has yet the form of the former ; on the other hand, there 

 are specimens with the proportions of the mandibles as in vicxicana, while 

 the size is intermediate. 



The following figures will illustiate the differences in the size of the bills 

 of tlie different races. 



Var. mexirnna. 

 29703 cj , Mexico. 



Var. ctirHroxrra 

 17010 (f, Europe. 



Var. amcricana 

 18036 tj , California- 



Var. anicrirnnn. 

 5803 d , Philadelphia. 



Specimens from the Columbia Pii\er region and northwest coast of the 

 United States appear to have the red more rosaceous and the bill more 

 slender than the typical style. One specimen (No. 31,459, Fort Eae) is alto- 

 gether a very peculiar one ; the shade of red is different from that of any 

 other specimen, being a dark maroon-carmine, with a clear ash suffusion on 

 the back. Tliere are two distinct dusky stri]jes on tlie cheek, one over the 



