FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 303 



shrill clatter of the scissor-tail tlycatcbers, the rattle of woodpeckers, 

 the vociferations of mockingbirds, the cooing of doves, the piping 

 notes of the vermilion fl}' catcher, and the voices of passing birds, it 

 was quite like camping in an aviary. Though usually visited by 

 only an occasional Mexican, the birds went about their business as 

 if camp-fires were an everyday occurrence, and paid little heed to 

 us except when we shot a rattlesnake or made other undue signs of 

 our presence. 



Much to our surprise the blackbirds sang in notes that were sweet 

 and astonishingly like the call-notes of the goldfinch. But they 

 appeared particularly fond of making a noise that sounded like the 

 breaking of sticks, and it took a prominent part in a ludicrous per- 

 formance which they went through. Seated on an oak top, where 

 his humble spouse could see him to the best advantage, an old male 

 would begin by spreading his wings and tail to their fullest 

 breadth and making a crackling ' breaking brush ' sound which he 

 evidently considered a striking prelude. This done he would 

 quiver his wings frantically and opening wide his bill emit a high 

 falsetto squeal, quee-ee, quee-eCy quee-ee, quee-ee, perhaps attuned to 

 the feminine blackbird ear. But his coup d'etat, which should have 

 wrung admiration from the most unappreciative mate, consisted in 

 striking an attitude, his long bill pointed as nearly straight to the 

 sky as his neck would permit. Posed in this way he would sit like 

 a statue, with a most ludicrous air of greatness. Incredible as it 

 may appear, instead of standing spellbound before him, his spouse, 

 practical housewife that she was, whatever her secret admiration 

 may have been, through all his lordship's play calmly went about 

 gathering sticks. 



FAMILY FRINGHiLID^ : FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Wins' conspicuously long- and pointed, prima- 

 ries exceeding- secondaries by nearly or l 



more than twice the length of tarsus. 



■^ Fig. 308. 



/^^I^i. ^' Tips of bill crossed in adults Loxia, p. 313. 



Fiff. 369. 2'. Tips of bill not crossed. 



. Depth of bill at ba.se greater than length of hind toe with 

 ^ claw Coccothraustes, p. 307. 



Fig. 370. 3'. Depth of bill at base much less than length of hind toe 

 with claw. 

 4. Hind claw longer than ita toe. 



