NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Family FRINGILLIDiE. — The Finches. {Cviitinmd.) 



Genus SPIZELLA, Boxap. 



Spizella, Bonap. Geog. and Comp. List, 1838. (Type, Fringilla caiuidensis. Lath. 

 Spinites, Cab.inis, Mhs. Hi-in. 1851, 133. (Type, Fringilla socialis, Wils.) 



Gen. Char. 



Bill conical, the outlines slightly curved; the lower mandible decidedly 



larger than the upper; the commissure 

 gently sinuated ; the roof of the mouth 

 not knobbed. Feet slender ; tarsus 

 rather longer than the middle toe ; the 

 hinder toe a little longer than the outer 

 lateral, which slightly exceeds the 

 inner; the outer claw reaching the base 

 of the middle one, and half as long 

 as its toe. Claws moderately curved. 

 Tertiaries and secondaries nearly equal ; 

 wing somewhat pointed, reaching not 

 quite to the middle of the tail. First 

 quill a little shorter than the second and 

 equal to the fifth ; third longest. Tail 



spizella monticola. 



rather long, moderately forked, and divaricated at the tip; the feathers rather narrow. 

 Back streaked ; rump and beneath immaculate. Young streaked beneath. 



This genus differs from Zonotrichia principally in the smaller size and 

 longer and foi'ked, instead of rounded tail. 



Birds of the year of this genus are very difficult to distinguish, even liy 

 size, except in monticola. The more immature birds are also very closely 

 related. In these the entire absence of streaks on a plund)eous head point 

 to atrigularis ; the same character in a reddish cap, and a reddish up]}er 

 mandible to pusilla ; a dusky loral spot with dark streaks and generally a 

 rufous shade on top of head, to socialis. S. hrcweri, with a streaked head, 

 lacks the dusky lore and chestnut shade of feathers. S. pallida generally 

 has a median light stripe in the cap, and a dusky mandibular line. 



Common Characters. Interscapular region with black streaks. Rump and 

 lower parts without streaks (except in young). Wing with two narrow light 

 bands (indistinct in atri'jnlaris). 



VOL. II. 1 



