PASSERIXK BIRDS OF CEYLON. 157 



Family Fringillid^. 



8ub -family Frinqillinse. 



Finches. 



The Finches agree with the Ploceidse in having a strong 

 conical bill with the nostrils pierced close to the line of the 

 forehead and near the ridge of the bill. The edges of the 

 mandibles are smooth, the rictal bristles are few and short, 

 and there are twelve tail feathers. The chief outward struc- 

 tural point of difference is that there are only nine primaries 

 in the wing, the first being nearly as long as the second. In 

 the sub-family Fringillinsa the bill is moderate in size, and 

 the cutting edges of the mandibles are in contact for the 

 whole length of the bill. The wings and tail are moderate in 

 length, the tarsi and feet fairly well developed. There is one 

 yearly moult, in autumn. The tAvo sexes generally differ in 

 their plumage and young birds resemble adult females. 



The Finches are a very large group of birds, found all over 

 the world, except in Australia, but chiefly in cool or temperate 

 regions. They are very poorh' represented in Ceylon, the 

 only common species being the ubiquitous House Sparrow, 

 while one other species of a closely allied genus has been 

 recorded as a straggler. 



Key to Ceylon Fringillinse. 



A. — A 3^ellow patch on the throat ; ]>ill comparatively long 

 and slender. 



Gymnorhis flavicollis flavicollis (Yellow-throated 

 Sparrow). 



B. — No yellow patch on throat ; bill short and stout. 

 Passer domesticus indicus (House Sparrow). 



Gymnorhis flavicollis flavicollis. 

 The Yellow-throated Sparrow. 



Gymnorhis flavicollis (Oates, Vol. II., p. 235) ; Passer flavicollis 

 (Legge, p. 605). 



Description. — Male : Upper plumage from forehead to tail 

 coverts sandy-brown ; lesser wing coverts cinnamon-red : 

 median coverts brown with white tips ; greater coverts and 



