FlIINGILLIDJ:; — THE FINCHES — MELOSPIZA. 



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Genus MELOSPIZA, Baird. 



Mdospiza, Baird, Birds N. Amcr. 1858, 476. (Type, Fringilla melodiu.) 



Gex. Char. Bill conical, very obsoletely notched, or smootli ; somewhat compressed. 

 Lower mandible nut so deep as the upper. Commissure nearly straight. Gonj's a little 

 curved. Feet stout, uot stretching beyond the tail ; tarsus a little longer than the middle 



toe ; outer toe a little longer than the inner ; its claw not cpiite reaching to the base of the 

 middle one. Hind toe appreciably longer than the middle one. Wings quite short and 

 rnundeil, scarcely reaching lieyond the base of tlio tail ; the tertials considerably longer 

 than the secondaries ; the quills considerably graduated ; the fourth longest ; the fij-st not 



lit. melodia. 



