CORYTHUS. 



the female, the general markings are the same, 

 but not so distinct. The upper parts are more 

 of a brownish tint, and so also is the under surface 

 of the body tinted with the red of the male. 

 The Bullfinch is subject to considerable variety. 

 Individuals pied black and white occur, white 

 occupying the red and gray portions. Some are 

 of a yellowish white, or cream-colour, and occa- 

 sionally they occur nearly pure white, while black 

 varieties obtain at times, an effect which, it is 

 said, may be artificially produced by confining 

 the food to hempseed. A very beautiful species, 

 much allied in form, is found on the Himalayan 

 range. 



Our next bird is very closely allied to the 

 True Bullfinches, but diverges from their form in 

 that of the bill, and in the colours of the plumage, 

 in the last respect much more closely approaching 

 to the tints and changes undergone by the Cross- 

 bills. The tarsus is also proportionally shorter. 

 These differences have induced many of our 

 ornithologists to adopt Cuvier's genus Corythus^ 

 in preference to continuing them with Pyrrhula. 

 Cory thus may be thus characterized : 



CORYTHUS, Cuvier. Generic characters. 

 Bill somewhat swollen, with the culmen 

 rounded, mandible " projecting and curving 

 over the tip of the lower ;" tarsus shorter than 



