FRIXGILLID.'E — THE FINCHES. 529 



The species are usually small, and of dull color, though frequently hand- 

 somely marked. Nearly all are streaked on the hack and crown, often on 

 the belly. None of the United States species have any red, blue, or orange, 

 and the yellow, when present, is as a superciliary streak, or on the elbow 

 edge of the wing. 



In the arrangement of this subfamily, as of the others belonging to the 

 FringiUidcc, we do not profess to give anything like a natural system, but 

 merely an attempt at a convenient artificial scheme by which the determina- 

 tion of the genera may be facilitated. 



A. Tail small and short; considerably or decidedly shorter than the wings, 

 owing either to the elongation of the wing or the shortening of the tail. Lateral 

 toes shorter than the middle without its claw. Species streaked above and 

 below. (Passerculeae.) 



a. Thickly streaked everywhere above, on the sides, and across the breast. 

 Wing pointed ; longest priniaiies considerably longer than the secondaries. 

 Tail forked. 



Centronyx. Hind claw very large ; rather longer than its digit. The 

 hind toe and claw, together, as long as or longer than the middle toe 

 and claw. Other toes as in Passerculus. Claws gently curved. Tertials 

 shorter than the secondaries. Tail forked, but the lateral feathers 

 shorter. 



Passerculus. Hind claw as long as its digit ; the toe equal to the 

 middle one without its claw ; lateral toes felling considerably short of 

 the middle claw. Wings very long ; first primary longest. Tertials as 

 long as the primaries. Tail forked ; feathers acute. 

 Pdoceetes. Hind claw shorter than its digit; the whole toe less than 

 the middle toe without its claw. Lateral toes nearly equal to the 

 middle one, without its claw. Tertials but little longer than secon- 

 daries. Tail stiffened, forked ; feathers acute, outer ones white. 

 h. Moderately streaked above, on the sides, and on the breast, the latter 

 sometimes unstreaked ; the dorsal streaks broader, the otheis fainter than in 

 the last. Wings short, reaching a little beyond the base of the tail. Not 

 much difference between the primaries and secondaries. Tail short, grad- 

 uated, and the feathers lanceolate, acute. 



Coturniculus. Bill short ; thick. Tertials almost equal to the pri- 

 maries; truncate at the end. Claws small, weak ; hinder one shorter 

 than its digit. Outstretched feet not reaching the tip of the tail. Tail- 

 feathers not stiffened. (In one species tail nearly equal to the wing.) 

 Ammodromus. Bill slender, small at base, and elongated. Tertials 

 not longer than the secondaries; rounded at the tip. Claws large, 

 hinder one equal to its digit. Outstretched toes reaching considerably 

 beyond the end of the stiffened, almost scansorial tail. 



B. Tail longer and broader ; nearly or quite as long as, sometimes a very little 

 longer than, tlie wings, which are rather lengthened. The primaries considerably 

 longer than the secondaries. None of the species streaked beneath, and the 

 back alone streaked above. (Spizelleae.) 



a. Tail rounded or slightly graduated. 



Chondestes. Tail considerably graduated, not emarginated. Lateral 

 toes considerably shorter than the middle toe, without its claw. Wings 

 very long, decidedly longer than the tail, reaching the middle of the 

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