362 COCCOTHRAUSTES ATROGULARIS. 



Remarks. — The bill of the Greenfinch, although very similar 

 in form to that of the Hawfinch, is proportionally so much 

 smaller that one scruples to admit it into the same family. On 

 the other hand it is so much stronger than that of the Linnets, 

 that the bird seems equally out of place among them ; and 

 although it might be placed among the Sparrows, with as much 

 propriety as among the Grosbeaks or Linnets, yet its bill comes 

 nearer to that of the latter. In short, this unfortunate bird, 

 unwelcome in any of these genera, clearly shews that all the 

 three are so closely connected that no fault could reasonably 

 be found with the systematist who, like M. Temminck, should 

 unite into a single genus Fringilla, Passer, Coccothraustes, 

 Linaria, and Carduelis. The only reason for w^hich I separate 

 them is, that they can be distinguished from each other, and, 

 being numerous, can be better studied in small groups. Vul- 

 garis, applied as a name to any bird, ought to be rejected as not 

 only vulgar, but inappropriate. The Grosbeak is not common 

 with us, and if the Greenfinch be admitted into the genus, as it 

 is by those who employ that epithet, it is much more deserv- 

 ing of it. 



