Xvi INTRODUCTION. 



first quill obsolete, the third and fourth primaries nearly equal, the sixth, 

 seventh, and eighth curved outwards. Tail short, and nearly square. 

 Tarsus scutellate in front, covered at the sides with a single plate, stout and 

 short ; claws moderately curved, rather short and strong (p. 163). 



Carduelis, Bnsson. — BiW nearly conical but slightly compressed, the point 

 slender and sharp. Nostrils basal, lateral, round, and hidden by projecting 

 and recurved plumes. Wings rather long and pointed ; the first primary 

 obsolete; the second, third, and fourth nearly equal, but the second the 

 longest. Tail more or less moderate, and forked. Tarsus short and rather 

 stout, scutellate in front, covered at the side by a single plate ; claws moder- 

 ate (p. 165). 



•Chrysomitris, F. Boie. — Bill rather attenuated, tapering to an acute point. 

 Nostrils concealed by short stiff feathers directed forward. Wings rather long 

 and pointed, the second quill being slightly the longest. Tail rather short 

 and forked. Tarsus slender ; toes covered in front with four plates and three 

 inferior scutellae ; claws moderate, curved and acute. Plumage soft, the 

 predominant colour being greenish-yellow (p. 167). 



.Serinus, K. L. Koch. — -Bill strong, short, somewhat conical, but very broad at 

 the base and with the distal half suddenly diminishing to the tip ; mandibles 

 nearly equal in size, but the upper a little longer than the lower ; edges 

 plain. Nostrils basal, supernal, round and hidden by projecting and re- 

 curved frontal plumes. Gape straight. Wings with the first primary so 

 small as to seem wanting ; the second, third and fourth nearly equal, but the 

 third a trifle the longest. Tail moderate, rather deeply forked. Tarsus 

 slender, and shorter than the middle toe, scutellate in front, covered at the 

 side by a single plate ; claws small and rather weak (p. 169). 



Passer, Brisson. — Bill somewhat conical, but bulging above and below, longer 

 than deep ; upper mandible larger than the lower, edges nearly plain. Nostrils 

 basal, lateral, rounded, almost hidden by projecting and recurved frontal 

 plumes. Gape straight. Wrings with the first primary small and attenuated 

 but distinctly developed, the third or fourth rather the longest, but the 

 second, third and fourth — sometimes even the fifth — are not very unequal. 

 Tail moderate or short, and nearly square. Tarsus stout, nearly as long 

 as the middle toe, scutellate in front, covered at the sides by a single plate ; 

 claws moderately curved, rather short (p. 171). 



Fringilla, Liinmiis. — Bill hard, straight, somewhat long, nearly conical, but 

 bulging slightly and pointed ; mandibles nearly equal, edges plain. Nostrils 

 basal, lateral, oval, partly hidden by projecting and recurved frontal plumes. 

 Gape straight. Wings with the first primary obsolete, the second always 

 shorter than the third, which or the fourth is longest in the wing. Tail 

 moderately long and decidedly forked. Tarsus stout, shortish, scutellate in 

 front, covered at the sides with a single plate ; claws moderately curved, 

 rather short (p. 175). 



ACANTHIS, Bechsteiii. — Bill hard, nearly conical, but slightly swollen ; the point 

 slender and sharp. Nostrils basal, round, and hidden more or less by pro- 

 jecting and recurved plumes. Gape nearly straight. Wings long, somewhat 

 pointed ; the first primary obsolete, the second, third, and fourth nearly 

 equal, and either the second or third the longest in the wing. Tail rather 

 long and forked. Legs short ; the tarsus scutellate in front, covered at the 

 side by a single plate ; toes stout ; claws moderate, the hind claw rather large 

 (p. 179). 



