FRINGILLID.E: FINCHES, BUNTINGS, SPARROWS. 



387 



^ way to end. Tarsus not sliorter than middle toe without cdaw ; lateral toes unequal, inner 

 sliorter, its claw not reaching base of middle claw. Hind claw about as long as its digit, more 

 curved and longer than middle claw. Sexes somewhat dissimilar. Coloration peculiar; usually 

 cliocolate-brown, enriched with rose or carmine, shaded with silvery-gray or black; one species 

 mostly silvery-gray. The American representative of the Old World genus MontifringUla, of 

 which some authorities make it a subgenus. Terrestrial, highly gregarious ; nest on ground; 

 eggs -immaculate white. Numerous species of this very interesting genus are scarcely stable. 

 I present the forms that are usually recognizable. The nearest American relative is Acanthis; 

 the general economy is more that oi Passerinu. 



Analysis of Subgenera, Species, and Subspecies. 

 Under mandible ridged. Nasal tufts white. Body-color chocolate-brown or darker. {Leucosticte proper.) 



No ash on head (Colorado and New Mexico) aiistmUs 



Ash on head confined to the top. 



Coloration blackish (Colorado and Utah to Idalio) atraia 



Coloration chocolate (W. America) tephrocolis 



Ash spreading on sides of head. 



Smaller : wing 4.20. (W. America) (ephrocotis Utnnilis 



Larger : wing 4.00. (Alaska) f/riseinuc/ia 



Under mandible smooth. Nasal tufts blackish. (Subgenus Hypolia.) 



Dusky-purplish and silvery-gray, with rosy arctoa 



L. atra'ta. (Lat. atmta, blackened.) Ridgway's Rosy Finch. Black Leucosticte. 

 Sexes unlike. Adult $ : Pattern of coloration and distribution of tints as in tephrocotis 

 proper (see beyond) ; nasal tufts white, and occiput ashy, as in that species, but the chocolate- 

 brown of tephrocotis replaced by black, deepest anteriorly and on under parts, sooty-brownish 

 on back. Bill black (April) or yellow (September). 'Si'ize ol tephrocotis. Adult?: Black of 

 $ represented by dark slate-gray, more brownish on back, the rosy markings duller and more 

 restricted; size rather less. Rocky Mountain region of the U. S., breeding in Idaho and prob- 

 ably other northern regions, S. in winter to Colorado and Utah. 



L. austra'lis. (Lat. anstralis, southern.) Allen's Rosy Finch. Brown-capped Leu- 

 costicte. Sexes unlike. (^, breeding plumage: Rich chocolate or umber-brown ; feathers 

 of back with darker shaft-lines and paler edges, those of under parts darker and somewhat 

 purplish-brown. Red parts of the body heightened to intense crimson, extending farther for- 

 ward than in tephrocotis, sometimes skirting all feathers of under parts ; especially strong on 

 tlie wing- and tail-coverts and belly. No pure ash whatever on head ; whole pileum black or 

 blackish, purest anteriorly, duller behind. Bill and feet black. Length 6.75 ; wing 4.00- 

 4.40, averaging in 69 specimens 4.30; tail 2.80-3.35, average 3.10; bill 0.45 ; tarsus 0.75. 

 When not in highest feather, carmine toned down to more pink or rosy. In winter, bill yel- 

 low, changing to black through various cloudings. 9 > i^ summer: Generally like $, having 

 black bill and no ash on head ; averages 

 a little smaller, and is much duller col- 

 ored : lirown parts of a grayish cast ; rosy 



reduced or almost extinguished, chiefly -^^^^^Ml. Vf'^^^'-r 



traceable on ruujp and wing-coverts ; ab- 

 domen scarcely tinted; quills and t.iil- ---^^^'■f ■ ,s^* 

 feathers with whitish instead of rn-y ^^B^ '^"^^a^^H," 

 edgings. Wing 4.00-4.20, averaeing 

 little \)\vx 4.00;^ tail 2.90-3.25, average 



3.00. Cohirado, breeding up to 12,0(10 _^.^^_- ^^. ^^ 

 feet ; S. in winter to New Mexico. ' ''~>^lrl^*vt. . 



L. tephroco'tis. (Gr. Tf(f>p6s, tephros, "*" — — - 



gray ; ol,, ^tos, OUS, Otos, the ear. Fig. ^"'- ^-^S- -R°«y F»»«'>' ^^'l"'^^^- iSheppard del. Nichols so.) 



249.) Swainson's Rosy Finch. Gray-crowned Leucosticte. Sexes similar. Adult ^, 



