FRINGILLIDJE: FINCHES, BUNTINGS, SPARROWS. 



389 



Fig. 'ITyl. — Aleutian Leucosticte. 



ACAN'THIS. {Qy. aKavdis, akanthis,\mnet. Fig. 253.) Red-poll Linnets. Bill small, 



short, straight, very acute, more or less compressed, lateral outlines usually a little concave, 



those of eulmen and gonys straight; commissure straight to tlie 



slight angulation. Base of bill thickly beset with a ruff of an- 



trorse plumules, concealing small nasal fossaj and round nostrils. 



Wings longer than tail, pointed by first 3 primaries. Tail rather 



long for this group, forked. Feet small and weak, but tarsi longer 



than middle toe without claw ; lateral toes of equal lengths, their 



claw-tips falling beyond base of middle claw. Hind claw much 



longer, stouter and more curved than the middle, e.xceeding its ^-^eauriiv 



(Hgit in length. Size small; plumage streaky with dusky, white, 



and flaxen colors, crown crimson, face and throat blackish ; sexes 



otlierwise dissimilar ; $ with rosy or carmine on breast, wanting 



in 9 • Arboreal, higlily boreal, gregarious Finches of circumpolar 



distribution, breeding in hiafh latitudes and alpine regions, roving ^ „^^ ^ ., ^ ^ 



' n , -VT TIT ^'°- 2.^3. — Details of Acan- 



south in winter in great flocks. Nest in trees and bushes; eggs this (A. homemanni, uat. size), 

 colored. The species are much involved ; we have five recogniza- (From EUiot.) 

 ble forms (if two distinct species. 



Annlysis of Species and Subspecies, 

 Tarsus as long as middle toe and claw. Heavily streaked below. Rump always fully streaked. 



Smaller : length about 5.50 ; wing 3.00 ; bill moderate (N. Am. at large) linaria 



Larger: lei'sth about 0.00; wing 3.-.'o; bill large, acute (Canada, etc.) linnria liolhoelli 



bill very stout (Greenland) linnriu rostnita 



Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. Liglitly or scarcely streaked below. Rump of adult ^ immaculate white 

 to some extent. 



Smaller : length about .5..50 ; wing 3.00. Bill and feet small (Brit. Am., etc.) Iioniemanni eiiUpes 



Larger : length about G.OO ; wing 3.30. Bill and feet large (Greenland) honieinanni 



A. lina'ria. (Lat. ?wwmf, flaxen : a linnet. P'ig. 254.) Common Red-poll. Adult $ : 

 Frontlet, lores, and throat-spot sooty-black. Crown crimson. Above, variegated with brown- 



