Fringillidae 323 



C. Tail distinctly exceeding the wing. 



a. Head crested ; plumage red. Cairdinalis, p. 398. 



b. Head not crested. 



a* Outer (ninth) primary shorter than second ; tail black, 



tipped with white or brown. Pipilo, p. 392. 



b- Outer (ninth) primary longer than second ; tail greenish. 



Oreospiza, p. 396. 



As the genera of thi>; family are by no means easy to dis- 

 criminate, an alternative key is given ; this is adapted from 

 that of Coues, in which colour and plumage characters 

 are more freely used. 



A. Bill with tips of mandibles crossed. Loxia, p. 333. 



B. Bill very large, culmen almost equal to tarsus, greenish 



in colour. Hesperiphona, p. 325. 



C. BiU large and reddish ; head crested. Cardinalis, p. 398. 



D. Bill with a pair of tufts of bristles at base of upper mandible 



partially or completely concealing nostrils. 



a. Length over 8 ; plumage grey with red in male, yellow in 



female. Pinicola, p. 327. 



b. Length less than 8. 



a'* Plumage black and white, washed with clear brown in 



winter. Plectrophenax, p. 349. 



b^ Plumage chocolate or dusky, with rosy edgings and 



washings. Leucosticte, p. 335. 



c^ Pkmiage chiefly yeUow, no red ; wings and tail black. 



Astragalinus, p. 342. 

 d^ Plumage streaky. 



a' Bill turgid ; male chiefly rosy ; female dusky, no yellow. 



Carpodacus, p. 328. 

 b' Bill acute ; crown crimson. Acanthis, p. 340. 



c^ Bill acute, no red ; yellow about wings and tail. 



Spinas, p. 346. 



E. Bill without tufts ; nostrils generally exposed. 



a. Hind claw lengthened and straightened. 



a" Bill moderate ; white on tail oblique. Calcarius, p. 350. 

 b" Bill turgid, white on tail transverse. 



Rhynchophanes, p. 353. 



b. Hind and fore claws lengthened, the inner reaching at least 



half-way to the end of middle one. 

 a^ Plumage sparrow-like, spotted and streaked. 



Passerella, p. 390. 

 b^ Plumage black, white and chestnut in masses. 



Pipilo (in part), p. 392. 



X 2 



