296 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



FAMILY FRINGILLID^E. The Finches, Spar- 

 rows, ETC. 



This large family has comparatively few genera with- 

 in our limits which are highly specialized in coloration, 

 a large proportion of them being colored in a decidedly 

 primitive fashion. Brownish and buff colors prevail, 

 although red here reaches its maximum development. 

 The lack of more fully developed color markings is to be 

 explained partly by the terrestrial habits of so many of 

 the family, making dull protective markings a matter of 

 necessity, and partly by the severe climate, compara- 

 tively speaking, in which a large proportion of the group 

 reside. 



Genus Coccothraustes. The Evening Grosbeaks. 



(7) Adult male more conspicuously colored than adult 

 female; young similar to adult female (but duller). 



Prevailing colors, black, white, yellow, brown, olive, 

 gray. 



The colors of the male are probably in the main, if 

 not exclusively, the result of sexual selection, incom- 

 pletely transferred to the female and young. The black 

 wings with white bars are doubtless recognition marks 

 which would be of especial use to this bird on account 

 its gregarious habit. 



The ancestral form, as shown by the unspecialized 

 plumage of the females and young, was dull brownish 

 gray and streaked, probably not unlike that of Pinicola, 

 Carpodacus, etc. 



Genus Pinicola. The Pine Grosbeaks. 

 (7) Adult male more conspicuously colored than 

 female; young similar to female, but colors duller. 

 Prevailing colors, red, gray, white, brown (abnormal). 

 The colors of the male have apparently been developed 



