FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 



485 



In the intensity, as well as the sliade of tlie red in the males., there is a 

 great range of variation. Generally it is of a tint almost precisely like 

 that of L. curvirostra, though deeper. The most highly colored specimen 

 is 54,795, Philadelphia (J. H. Mcllvaine), which is entirely continuous deep 

 tile-red, approaching vermilion on the rump. The abdomen and crissum 

 are light pinkish. In No. .31,459, Fort Kae, April, tlie red is of a curious 

 and very unusual purplish wine-red shade. 



The average of western specimens, particularly those from the northwest 

 coast of the United States, have bills scarcely larger than in the average of 

 eastern examples ; thus, 18,0.':)7,, Fort Crook, N. Cal., has the bill of the same 

 size as No. 5,8Uo, Philadelphia, while No. 53,482, East Humboldt Mountains, 

 has the bill smaller than any other in the collection. 



In color, there are scarcely any tangible differences between the European 

 Loxia curvirostra. and the two American varieties, the distinctive character 

 being in the form of the l)ill and the size ; the C. mexicana is the largest of 

 the three, and tlie bill is quite peculiar in form, the lower mandible almost 

 equalling the upper in length, and exceeding it in thickness. L. curviroslra 

 is slightly smaller, and has the lower mandible much smaller and less. power- 

 ful than the upper, being inferior to it both in length, breadth, and thickness. 

 The colors also appear to be rather less intense than in C. mexicana. 



The C. amcricana is in every way, the bill especially, smaller than either 

 of the preceding. The lower mandible, altliough but slightly shorter than 

 the upper, is still much weaker, as in the European bird. The majority of 

 western Ijirds liave the bill but slightly larger than eastern, and most of 

 those with large bills are only intermediate between cunericana and mexi- 

 cana. In some specimens the bill, although almost equalling in length 

 that of tlie latter, has yet the form of the former; on the other hand, there 

 are specimens with the proportions of the mandibles as in mexicana, while 

 the size is intermediate. 



Tlie following figures will illustrate the differences in the size of the bills 

 of the different races. 



Var. mexirana. 

 29703 d", Mexico. 



Var. currirostrn. 

 17010 c^, Europe. 



A' (IT. nmcrirnna 

 18035 d" , California. 



Var. nmerirana. 

 5803 cf , Philadolphia. 



Specimens from the Columbia River region and northwest coast of the 

 United States a]:)pear to have the red more rosaceous and the bill more 

 slender than the typical style. One specimen (No. 31,459, Fort Rae) is alto- 

 gether a very peculiar one ; the shade of red is different from that of any 

 otlier specimen, being a dark maroon-carmine, with a clear ash suffusion on 

 the back. There are two distinct dusky stripes on the cheek, one o\er the 



