AVES. 357 



Several of the handsome crested tanagers are common in collections, 

 especially the scarlet crested species {Tachyphonus cristatus), which is a 

 bird about the size of the orchard oriole, with the plumage entirely black 

 except a brilliant erect scarlet crest. The most richly colored birds of this 

 large sub-family are, however, the paradise tanagers. Of these, perhaps, 

 the most beautiful is a species sometimes called the seven-colored tanager, 

 Calliste tatao {pi. 101, fig. 11), which has the plumage of that number of 

 distinct colors. Another is the tricolored tanager (C tricolor), which 

 has three colors, blue, green, and orange. Many other species have very 

 gay and agreeably colored plumage, though said to possess little or no 

 song. 



The Towhe buntings or chewinks are arranged here, of which one 

 species (Fipilo erythrophthalma) is very common in the United States. 



Sub-fam. 4. FringillincB, Sparrows and Finches. Bill short, conic, com- 

 pressed to the tip ; wings generally lengthened and pointed ; tail various, 

 usually rather lengthened and rounded ; tarsi and feet generally long and 

 slender. Size small. 



An extensive group, comprising about two hundred and fifty little birds, 

 found in all countries. They are well known everywhere for their familiar 

 and harmless habits, and general disposition to frequent the vicinity of 

 cultivated places or the abodes of man. They feed on seeds and fruits, 

 and many species live habitually on the ground. 



There are several European species, among the most common of which 

 ai^e the house-sparrow, Fringilla domestica (pi. 100, fig. Go) ; the mountain 

 sparrow (F. montana) ; the chaffinch, F. ccelehs {pi. 101, fig. 12) ; the 

 brambling {F. montifringella) , and some others. 



The North American species are the white-tliroated sparrow {Zono- 

 trichia albicollis), the song sparrow (Z. melodia), the white-crowned 

 sparrow (Z. leucophrys), the grass sparrow (Z. grayninea), the rush spar- 

 row (Z. juncorum), the chipping sparrow (Z. socialis), the fox sparrow 

 (Z. iliaca), and a number of others less common. 



The song sparrow, and the chipping sparrow or chippy, as it is usually 

 called, are perhaps the most abundant birds in the United States. The 

 former may be met with almost every day in the year in all hedges or in 

 the neighborhood of small water-courses ; and the latter, in all the gardens 

 and orchards, fields and meadows, of the whole country. Both are plain- 

 plumaged, but very agreeable little birds, possessing very pleasant voices, 

 and are great favorites with our rural population. 



The goldfinches belong here. The best known European species is the 

 common goldfinch, Carduelis elegans {pi. 101, fig. 10) ; another is the 

 siskin, C. spinus {pi. 101, fiig. 9). The American species are the thistle 

 bird (C tristis), the western goldfinch {C. psaltria), the Mexican gold- 

 finch (C. mexicana), Lawrence's goldfinch (C. lawrencei), and several 

 others. 



Many other little birds of all countries are aiTanged in this group. The 

 amaduvat, Fringilla amaduva {pi. 101, fig. 6), is an Indian species; the 

 littlt-. Senegal finch, F. senegala {pi. 101, fig. 5), inhabits Africa. 



ICONOaRAKHIC ENTYCLOP^DIA. — VOL. II. 3G 561 



