THE GREENFINCH. 39 



stated intervals, and compelled them to take exercise ; in which case, perhaps their 

 lives might have been prolonged : but Sand-Martins are not suitable birds for the 

 aviculturist. 



FAMILY FRINGILLIM. 



THIS family consists of a number of hard-billed, largely seed-eating, birds. 

 Howard Saunders only distinguishes these as Finches (Fringillinaj and 

 Buntings (Emberizinaj ; but the Catalogue of Birds, of the British Museum, 

 regards the Grosbeaks as constituting a third Subfamily (Coccothraustince.j Seebohm 

 agreed with Howard Sauuders in uniting the latter Subfamily to the typical 

 Finches; but, in my opinion, there is more difficulty in distinguishing between 

 some of the foreign Buntings, and Grosbeaks, than between the latter and the true 

 Finches. I would, in any case, rather err on the side of too much regard for 

 structural differences, than on the opposite side. 



The Frvngittidet have only nine quill- feathers to the wing, the first primary 

 being wholly absent ; the bill is hard and conical, and is (to my mind) better 

 described by the term " beak " ; the Finches feed their young from the crop, 

 regurgitating the food when partially digested : naturally during the breeding 

 season, I believe all are more or less insectivorous, although seed forms their staple 

 food : in confinement, however, many of the Finches will live for many years upon 

 seed alone. 



The Coccothraustincc, or Grosbeaks, of which the Hawfinches are typical, are 

 characterized by a very heavy and powerful beak, with hardly any angle to the 

 chin ; the nasal bones produced backwards beyond the front margin of the eye- 

 socket, (cf. R. B. Sharpe, Cat. Birds, Vol. XII). 



The FringillincE, or true Finches, the type of which is our English Chaffinch, 

 usually have a somewhat less powerful beak, with the angle of the chin slightly 

 more defined, but still very feebly shown ; the mandibles almost terminating at 

 the same point ; the nasal bones not produced backwards beyond the front margin 

 of the eye-socket. 



