THE FINCHES 



Amongst the typical Finches we find many song- 

 sters of exceptional power and beauty. They form 

 a homogeneous group characterized by a strong stout 

 conical bill and the possession of nine primaries 

 only in the wing, the bastard or first and generally 

 minute primary quill being wanting. The present 

 family is a very extensive one, numbering several 

 hundreds of species, which are distributed throughout 

 the world, with the exception of Australia and the 

 Pacific Islands. The more typical Finches are 

 chiefly found in the temperate and northern portions 

 of the Old World, but the limits of the family are by 

 no means clearly defined, and much diversity of 

 opinion exists respecting them. The Finches are 

 certainly showy birds ; and even amongst British 

 species some are of very striking and pleasing 

 colouration. Of the extra British species which are 

 exceptionally good vocalists we may proceed to 

 mention the following, some of which, however, 



enter our area as abnormal migrants. The Pine Gros- 

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