YELLOW-HUMPED BULL-FINCH. 207 



other. Geographic distribution and a knowledge of 

 other species then comes to our aid, and in most 

 cases enables us to decide, with tolerable accuracy, 

 the affinities of such intermediate forms. Of this 

 character is the present bird : it certainly belongs 

 to the genus Criihagra, which seems the first of the 

 Bull-finches, after leaving the linnets. This genus 

 is abundant in Africa, where on the other hand the 

 linnets, so far as we know, are not to be found. 

 Upon the juxta-position of these two genera do we 

 account for their very great resemblance. 



Size of the red-pole linnet, upper plumage, in- 

 cluding the crown, ears, wings, and tail olive- grey, 

 with a dark stripe down each feather ; a broad stripe 

 of bright yellow is above each eye, which meet on 

 the front ; and there is another below the ear-fea- 

 thers, which leaves a maxillary dark stripe bordering 

 on the chin ; the upper tail-covers, and the whole 

 of the under plumage, from the chin to the vent, is 

 of the same clear and full yellow. The wings and 

 the tail are darker than the back ; the lesser and 

 greater covers have each an obsolete band of yellow 

 at their tips ; while the tail, which is divaricated, 

 is distinctly tipt with white. Bill and legs pale. 



In structure, the first quill is hardly shorter than 

 the second and third, which are the longest ; the 

 tarsus is not longer than the hind-toe ; the claws 

 slender, and the bill very little swelled. 



Total length, 4^ ; bill, & ; wings, 2^ ; tail 

 beyond. ^ ; from the base, 2 ; tarsus, J. 



