68 



PASSERES. 



FIUNGILLID.E. 



FRINGILLIDJB 



Fringilla ccelebs Linmeus*. 



THE CHAFFINCH. 



Fringilla ccelebs. 



FkinGILLA, Linnaus], — Bill hard, straight, s c\\ hat, Iiiii.l', nearly corneal, 



but bulging slightly and pointed ; mandibles nearly equal, edges plain. Nostrils 

 basal, lateral, oval, partly hidden bj projecting and recurved frontal plumes- 

 Gape straight. Wings with the first primary finely attenuated and so small as to 

 seem wanting, the resl varying in bheii comparative Length in different species, 

 but the second always shorter than the third, which or the fourth is longest La 

 the wing. Tail moderately long and decidedly Eorked. Tarsus stout, shortish, 

 scutellate in front, covered a1 the .-ides with a single plate. Claws moderately 

 curved, rather short. 



The male Chaffinch is one of the most handsome and 

 sprightly of our common small birds, and being also confi- 

 dent in his behaviour, as though courting the notice of men, 

 is extremely well known throughout nearly all parts of the 

 Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 318(1766). t Tom. cit. p. 317. 



