•220 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



"In the preceding diagnosis I have combined a number of forms, 

 nil nsreeinn in the length and acuteness of the wing, the bristly 

 feiitlierH along the base of the bill, the absence of consjiicuous 

 bristles on the sides of the mouth, and the shortness of the feet. 

 They are all strongly marked and brightly colored birds, and usu- 

 ally belong to the more northern regions. 



"The bill is very variable, even in the same genus, and its shape 

 is to a considerable extent of specilic rather than of generic im- 

 portance. The fringe of short bristles along the base of the bill, 

 concealing the nostrils, is not appreciable in Plcclruphciiies [ Plectro- 

 pluiKLv] (except in P. niv(ilis), but the other characteristics given 

 above are all present." (HiKt. X. Am. H.) 



Genera. 



A. Bill I'liormously Itirge andntout; the lateral outline as long as that ot tlu' skull. Ciil- 

 inc'ii ({I'litly curved. 



Colon* fji-ffiiiAh. uftlotn.and hlark. 



CoooothrausteB. First (lulU cciunl to the seconil. 'WinKs om- half loiiRer than the tnll. 

 Latiiiil .laws iMiual, reaching to the base of the middle chiw. Claws mu'li eurved, 

 obtuse; hinder one but little louKer than the inidille. 



B. Bill smaller, wilh the eulmen more or less curved: the lateral outline not so lonK as 

 the skull. Wlnu-s about one third longer than the tall, or a little more: llrst ciuill shorter 

 tliHii tlie second. Claws eonslderobly eurved and thickened; hinder most .so. and almost 

 Inaiipreciably longer or evon shorter than the mlddl(> anterior one. Tarsus shorter than 

 the middle toes. Lateral toes unequal. 



a. Coloi'n plain oi'ay anil hlavk, nfvi'r atrfakt'ti; hrfa:tt t'ffl in tltt* male of noute species. 



Pyrrhula. Bill excessively swollen: as broad and as high as long, not half length of 

 head: upper outline much curved. Tail-coverts covering two thirds the tail, whiidi 

 is nearly even; middle and hinder ulaws abotft equal. 



h. i'lilnr:* rfildintt in thf mah', pfain grayish or streak-fd hrofrn and trliit*' in the femalv. 



Pinioola. Bill moderately swollen: longer than high or broail. upper outlines much 

 eurved: the tip hooked. Tail-coverts reaching over basal half of tail, which Is nearly 

 even. Middle claw longer thnn the hind; outer lateral claw (Extending beyond base of 

 niiildlc Reaching to it in I'urrlmla and Cnri/odncnii). Female and yonnunoi streaked. 

 Carpodaous. Bill variable, always more or less eurved and swollen; longer than high 

 or broad; the tip not hooked. Tali-coverts rcaidiing overtwo thirds the tail, which Is 

 decidedly forked. Middle and hind claw about enual. Female and i/onno streaked. 



e. Colom hlack and and yelloir in the male. 



Spinas. Bill nearly straight. Hind claw stouter and more curved, but scarcely 

 longer than the middle anterior one. Outer lateral toe reaching a little beyonil the 

 base of the middle claw: shorter than tlie hind toe. Whigs longer and more pointed. 

 Tall auite deeply forked. 



C. Hind claw considerably longer than the middle anterior one. witli about the same 

 eurvat\u-e: claws attenuated towards the point, and acute. Lateral toes about equal. 

 Wings usually almost one half longer than the tall, which Is deeply forked. Tarsus 

 shorter than middle toe. 



