SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS xi 
FAMILY FRINGILLIDZ 
(FINCHES) 
Remarkable for the shortness, thickness, and powerful structure of the 
bill; the upper and lower mandibles are usually equally thick, and their 
height and breadth are nearly alike, so that the bill when closed presents 
the appearance of a short cone, divided in the middle by the gape. By its 
aid they break open the hard woody capsules and fruit-stones containing 
the seeds and kernels which form their chief food. At nesting-time many 
species 
live on insect larve, with which the young are almost exclusively fed. 
The wings have nine visible primaries. This family is one of immense extent, 
consisting of relatively small birds. 
34. 
35- 
36. 
37- 
38. 
39- 
40. 
4!. 
42. 
B.B. 
Licurinus (Greenfinch). Bill compressed towards tip, with scarcely 
perceptible notch at point ; nostrils basal, concealed by stiff feathers 
directed forwards ; wings rather pointed, first quill obsolete, second, 
third and fourth nearly equal and longest. Tail rather short, 
slightly forked. Tarsus scutellate in front; toes moderate; claws 
arched and laterally grooved. Page 86 
CoccoTHRAUSTES (Hawfinch). Bill tapering rapidly to point, culmen 
rounded ; mandibles nearly equal, edges inflected and slightly in- 
dented. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, nearly hidden by projecting 
and recurved frontal plumes. Wings with first quill obsolete, 
third and fourth primaries nearly equal, sixth, seventh, and eighth 
curved outwards. Tail short, and nearly square, Tarsus scutellate 
in front, covered at sides with single plate, stout and short ; claws 
moderately curved, rather short and strong. Page 87 
Carvufiis (Goldfinch and Siskin). Bill a rather elongated cone, 
compressed at the tip, and finely pointed; wings long, pointed ; 
first three primaries nearly equal and the longest; tail slightly 
forked. Page 88 
PASSER (Sparrows). Bill somewhat arched above; lower mandible 
rather smaller than the upper; first three primaries longest. 
Page 92 
FRINGILLA (Chaffinch and Brambling). Bill straight, sharp, pointed; 
mandibles nearly equal; first primary a little shorter than the 
second, much shorter than the third and fourth, which are nearly 
equal and the longest. Page 95 
AcaANTHIS (Linnet, Redpolls, Twite). Bill a short straight cone, 
compressed at the tip; wings long, pointed; third primary some- 
what shorter than the first and second, which are equal and the 
longest; tail forked. Page 98 
PYRRHULA (Bullfinch). Bill short and thick, the sides tumid ; upper 
mandible much arched and bending over the lower one; first 
primary nearly equal to the fifth, second a little shorter than the 
third and fourth, which are the longest. Page 101 
Loxta (Crossbill). Bill thick at the base; both mandibles equally 
curved, hooked at the tips, and crossing each other at the points, 
Page 103 
EMBERIZA (Buntings, Yellow-hammer). Bill with upper mandible 
not wider than lower, edges of both inflected and those of latter 
gradually cut away (sinuated); the palate generally furnished 
with a hard bony knob; wings moderate, first primary obsolete, 
second, third and fourth nearly equal. Tail rather long and slightly 
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