CHAP. XVIII.] 



BIRDS. 



283 



peculiar to Central America and Mexico, and 2 (Spindalis and 

 Fhcenicophilus) to the West Indian islands. The genera adopted 

 by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin with their distribution will be 

 found at Vol. II., p. 99, in our account of Neotropical Zoology. 



Family 33.— FEINGILLID^. (74 Genera, 509 Species.) 



The great family of the Fringillidae, or finches, is in a very un- 

 settled state as regards their division into genera, the most di- 

 vergent views being held by ornithologists as to the constitution 

 and affinities of many of the groups. All the Australian finch- 

 like birds appear to belong to the Ploceidse, so that the finches, 

 as here constituted, are found in every region and sub-region, 

 except the Australian region from which they are entirely absent 

 — a peculiar distribution hardly to be found in any other family 

 of birds. 



Many European ornithologists separate the Emberizidse, or bun- 

 tings, as a distinct family, but as the American genera have not 

 been so divided I am obliged to keep them together ; but the 

 genera usually classed as " buntings " are placed last, as a sub- 

 family. In the following arrangement of the genera, I have done 

 what I could to harmonize the views of the best modern writers. 

 For convenience of reference the succession of the genera is that 

 of the Hand List, and the numbers of the sub-genera are given 

 whenever practicable : — 



^1793 1795^ Fringilla (6 sp.), the Whole Palaearctic region, includ- 

 ing the Atlantic Islands ; (^^^*) Acanthis (3 sp.), Europe to Siberia, 

 Persia, and North-West Himalayas; Q^^) Procarduelis (1 sp.). 

 High Himalayas and East Thibet ; (^^^^ - 1^03) Chrysomitris (18 

 sp.). Neotropical and Nearctic regions, Europe, and Siberia; Q-^^*) 

 Metoponia (1 sp.), East Europe to North West Himalayas ; Q^^^ 

 and 1809^ Clilorospiza (9 sp.), Palaearctic region and Africa to the 



