FRIXGILLID.E — THE FIN'CIIES. 447 



at the baso of the bill. Feet short and rather weak. lliii«l claw usually considerably 

 longer than the middle anterior one; sometimes nearly the same size. 



In the preceding diagnosis I have comhined a number of forms, all agree- 

 ing in the length and aciiteness of the wing, the Imstly feathei^s along the 

 base of tlie bill, the absence of conspicuous bri.-^tles on the sides of the 

 mouth, and the sliortness of the feet. Tliev are all stronglv marked and 

 brightly colored l)irds, and usually bdong to the more northern rejjions. 



The bill is yery variable, even in the same genus, and its shape is to a 

 considerable extent of specific ratlier than of generic importance. The fringe 

 of short bristles along the base of the bill, concealing tlie nostrils, is not 

 appreciable in Phrtrnphonoi (except in P. nivalis), but the other character- 

 istics given above are all present. 



Genera. 



A* Bill enormously large and stout ; the lateral outline as long as that of the 

 skulL Culmeu gently curved. 



Colors green, yeUou; and black: 



Hesperiphona. First quill equal to the second. Wings one half longer 

 than the tail. Lateral claws equal, reaching to the base of the middle claw. 

 Claws much curved, obtuse ; hinder one but little longer than the middle. 

 B* Bill snuUler, with the culmen more or less curved; the lateral outline not so 

 long as the skull. "Wings about one third longer than the tail, or a little more ; 

 first quill shorter t}ian the second. Claws considerably curved and thickened ; 

 hinder most so, ami almost inappreciably longer or even shorter than the middle 

 anterior one. Tarsus shorter than the middle toes. Lateral toes unequal. 



a. Colors red, gray, and hlach. never streaked. 



Pyrrhula. Bill excessively swollen; as liroad and as high as long, not half 

 length of head; upper outline much curved. Tail-coverts covering two thirds 

 the tail, which is nearly even, middle and hinder claws about equal. 



h. Colors red and gray, or streaked hrovm and white. 



Pinicola. Bill moderately swollen ; longer than high or broad, upper out- 

 lines much curved ; the tip hooked. Tail-coverts reaciiing over basal half of 

 tail, which is nearly even. Middle claw longer than hind; outer lateral 

 claw extending beyond base of middle (reaching to it in Pyrrhula and 

 Carpodarns). 9 J^'i'i ./"*'• riot streaked. 



Carpodacus. Bill varial tie, always more or less cui ved and swollen ; longer 

 • than high or broad ; the tip not hooked. Tail-coverts reaching over two 

 thirds the tail, which is decidedly forked. Middle and hind claw about 

 equal. 9 andyia*. streaked. 



c. Colors black and yelloiv. 



Chrysomitris. Bill nearly straight. Hind claw stouter and more curved, 



but scarcelv lonircr than the middle anterior one. Outer lateral toe reaching 



a little beyond the biise of the middle claw ; shorter than the hind toe. 



Wings longer and more pointed. Tail quite deeply forked. 



C Hind clav,- considerably longer than the middle anterior one. with about the 



same curvature; claws attenuated towards the point, and acute. Lateral oes 



about equal. Wings usually almost one half longer than the tail, whitl' is deeply 



forked. Tarsus shorte?- than middle toe. 



