CAT A ;L O G U E 



BIRDS 



Order II. PASSERIFORMES 



(Cat. B. vol. iii. p. 1). 



Suborder I. PASSERES 



(Cat. B. vol. iii. p. 6). 



Section B. FR1NGILLIFORMES 



(NINE-QUILLED PASSERES) 

 (Cf. Cat. B. vol. x- pp. 1, 2). 



Family FRINGILLIDiE. 



The present volume of the Catalogue treats of the FringiUidce, 

 a family closely allied to the Tanagridce, described by Dr. Sclater in 

 the preceding volume, and also connected through the Buntings with 

 the Larks (Alaudidn). 



No one has as yet propounded a satisfactory classification of the 

 FringiUidce, the difficulty consisting in the complete connection 

 •which exists between the various genera of Finches and Buntings; 

 and such ornithologists only who have not entered into a detailed 

 study of this family will speak of the Finches, Buntings, and 

 their allies as if they constituted well-defined families. Any 

 one who has worked upon a large or small fragment of the 

 family must acknowledge that the definition of the genera is 

 difficult and the recognition of subfamilies almost impossible. The 

 FringiUidce naturally group themselves into three divisions — Gros- 

 beaks, Finches, and Buntings: but numerous forms connect them, 

 being referable to the confines of any of the three groups. Thus 

 Vardincdis will probably be found from its osteology to be a 



VOL. XII. w 



