232 conirostiJes. 



FAMILY IV. 



FiiiNGiLLiD^. The Finches. 



Gejt. Charac. — Bill short, thick, strong, and more or less conical, without 

 emargiuation at the tip, but generally angular and thick at the base. 



In the family of tlie Finches, to which belong the 

 Sparrow, the Bunting, the Greenfinch, the Gold- 

 finch, and all our little thick-billed birds, the form 

 of the bill is more decidedly conical than in any 

 other Passeres. Their beak is generally short and 

 stout, but tapering to a fine point ; and the edges of 

 the u|Dper mandible are destitute of those notches 

 near the tip, which, although specially characteristic 

 of the Dentirostral tribes, occur in a less marked 

 degree in many Conirostral species : in only one 

 sub -family (the Tanagers), the upper mandible is 

 distinctly notched, and bent over the lower. Their 

 tongue is rather fleshy, but horny towards the tip, 

 where it usually presents a slit. The feet are slender, 

 the tarsi generally covered in front with seven horny 

 23lates, which, however, are sometimes conjoined so 

 as to form a single long shield. The toes are of mode- 

 rate length, and terminated by rather slender curved 

 claws. The tail is composed of twelve feathers. 



The Finches are all small birds, and exhibit much 

 activity as they hop along upon the ground, or leap 

 from twig to twig among the trees and bushes. 

 Their flight is undulatory, rising as by an effort 

 through a certain space, and then sinking, as the 

 wings are closed, for a similar distance. Their food 

 consists principally of seeds, for the consumption of 

 which the form of their bill is peculiarly adapted ; 

 but they also pick up insects and worms, especially 

 during the breeding season. Their adaptation to a 

 diet of hard vegetable substances is further shown 

 l:>y the structure of their digestive organs, their 



