AVES. 499 



The finches. Social birds, Uving mostly in woods, some also in rocky 

 places, and some in the neighbourhood of human dwellings. The genus 

 Friiujllla of Linnaeus is more natural than his genus Loxla, and therefore 

 has undergone fewer modifications. Some indeed of the species of his 

 genus Loxia required to be added to it, and others to be referred to 

 Amadina (see above, p. 497). Still, however, in the genus FringUla thus 

 hmited, many subdivisions have been offered, since the bill especially is 

 subject to many changes in size and form. 



a) With Mil short, hroad at the lose, with culmen obtuse, declivous, sub- 

 straight. Fringilla Cuv. 



Sp. Fringilla coslebs L., Buff. PI. enl. 54, fig. r, Lesson Ornith., PI. 60, 

 fig. I, Naum. Taf. 118; the chaffinch, le pingon, der Buch-Finh, gemdne 

 Finh; a very well known bird, breast in the male ruddy, in the female 

 grey ; back, above the base of the tail, green, a white and a yellow transverse 

 stripe on the wings ;— Fringilla montifringilla L., Naum. Taf. 119, the 

 mountain-finch;— Fringilla chloris, Loxia chloris L., Buff. PI. enl. 26>j, 

 fig. 2, Naum. Taf. 120; the green grosbeak. 



Amongst the exotic species to this division may be referred Fringilla 

 canarina L., Crithagra canaria Swains., Buff. PI. enl. 202, i, of which 

 the yeUow variety, the canarij, is dispersed everywhere as a chamber-bird. 



b) With bill short, acute, subcompressed. Linaria Bechst., Linota 

 Bonap. 



Sp. Fringilla canabinaL., Buff, PL enl. 485, fig. i, Naum. Taf. 121; the 

 common linnet, &c. 



c) With bill very short, broad at the base, with culmen flat, compressed 

 at the tip, acute. Tail forked. Serinus of some, Spinus KocH, Brehm, 

 Chrysomitris Boie. 



Sp. Fringilla spinus L., Buff. PI. enl. 485, fig. 3, Naum. Taf. 125; the 

 siskin, &c. 



d) With bill moderate, subulate, ivith tip much compressed. Carduelis 

 Cuv. {Tail short, subemarginate ; zvings ivith first and second quills longest 

 of all.) 



Sp. Fringilla carduelis L., Buff. PI. enl. 4, Lesson Ornith. PI. 60, fig. 2, 

 Naum. Taf. 124, figs, i, 2; the goldfinch, la chardonneret, der Bi'stelfink; 

 wings black, with a bright yellow spot, throat and head around the bill 

 blood-red, especiaUy in the male; tail black with white margin. The name 

 carduelis is borrowed from the food which it willingly seeks, the seeds of 

 thistles and of many other plants from the natural family of the compositw. 



e) With bill conical, culmen subarcuate, tip emarginate, curved. (Tail 

 even.) Pyrgita Cuv. 



Sp. Fringilla montana L., Buff. PL enl 267, fig. i, Lesson Ornith. PI. 62, 

 fig. I, Naum. Taf. 116, figs, i, 2; the mountain-linnet, le friquet;— Frin- 

 gilla domestica L., Buff. PI enl. 6, fig. i, Naum. Taf. 115; the house- 

 sparrow, le moineau. 



32—2 



