FRI^GILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 503 



forward from the lower posterior angle of the side of the lower mandible, nearly parallel 

 with the gonys. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw. Inner toe almost the 

 longer, its claw not reaching beyond the base of the middle one. Hind toe rather longer, 

 its claw longer than the digital portion. Wings very long; first quill longest; all the 

 primaries longer than the secondaries. Tail forked. 



This genus differs from u^giothus in the more obtuse and curved bill, the 

 less development of bristly feathers at the base, the ridge on the lower man- 

 dible, the lateral toe not reaching beyond the base of the middle one, and 

 possibly a longer hind toe. Its relationship to the other allies will be found 

 expressed in the synoptical table of Coccothraustince. 



The number of American species, or at least races, of this genus has been 

 increased considerably since the publication of Birds of North America, five 

 now belonging to the American fauna, instead of the three there mentioned. 

 Of the species usually assigned to the genus, one, Z. arctoa, is quite different 

 in form, lacking the ridge of the mandible, etc., and in having the ends of the 

 secondaries graduated in the closed _^ _ 



wing, instead of being all on the same 

 line. The colors, too, are normally 

 different ; in arctoa. being dusky, 

 with silvery-gray wings and tail, 

 without rose tips to the feathers of 

 the posterior part of body ; and in 

 Lcucostide proper, the wings and tail 

 being dark-brown narrowly edged 

 with wliitish, or more broadly, like 

 the ends of the feathers of the body 

 behind, with rose-color. For the 



present, however, we shall combine the species, not having before us any 

 American specimens of L. arctoa. 



From the regular gradation of each form into the other — the extremes 

 being thus connected by an unbroken chain of intermediate forms — it seems 

 reasonable to consider all the North American forms as referable to one spe- 

 cies (Z. tcphrocotis, Sw., 1831) as geographical races. They may be distin- 

 guished as follows : — 



Common Characters. Body anteriorly chocolate-brown ; posteriorly tinged 

 with rose-red. Wing-coverts (broadly) and quills edged with the same. Head 

 above light ashy or silvery-gray, as are also the feathers around the base of upper 

 mandible ; the forehead and a patch on crown blackish. Throat dusky. 



Additional Characters. The chocolate-colored feathers and the secondary quills, 

 sometimes the tail-feathers and greater Aving-coverts, edged with pale brownish- 

 Avhite or fulvous ; the interscapulars with darker centres. Rose of rump and 

 upper tail-coverts in form of transverse bands at end of feathers, that of abdomen 

 more a continuous wash. -Lining of wings and axillars white, tinged with rose 

 at ends of feathers. Feathers of crissum dark brown, edged with whitish, some- 

 times tinged with rose. Bill generally reddish or yellowish, with blackish tip. 



Leucosticte tephrocotis. 



