1 9© 



FINCHES. 



Sub-Family IV. 

 THE FINCHES PROPER. FRINGILLINyE. 



General Characteristics. — Bill short, conic, and more or less broad at the base, with 

 the culmen sloping and the sides compressed to the tip, which is generally entire ; 

 the gonys long and advancing upwards; the wings more or less lengthened and 

 pointed ; the tail varying in length, sometimes with the end of the feathers acumi- 

 nated ; the tarsi as long as, or shorter than, the middle toe, slender and transversely 

 scaled ; the toes more or less long and slender, the huid toe moderate ; the chws 

 generally long, curved, and acute. 



Birds belonging to this sub-family are found in various parts of 

 Europe, Asia, Africa, both North and South America, and Aus- 

 tralia. They generally frequent open and cultivated places, but 



Fig. ioi.— The Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). 



some prefer the wild and mountainous districts : they live in flocks, 

 several species sometimes congregating together, especially during 

 the winter months. Those that reside in the more northern lati- 

 tudes migrate southwards during the cold season, and those inha- 

 biting the higher altitudes of the mountains seek the lower grounds 

 on the approach of winter. Their food consists during the winter 

 months of seeds of various plants and trees, such as the alder, 

 maple, etc. ; they likewise feed upon grains, which they seek for 

 on the ground, especially in stubble lands ; many, however, live 



