KKINCilLLlL'.K — THE FINCHES. 



459 



browii and violet-coloretl spots, that usually form a rin^ around the* lar^'er 

 end. Tlieir I'uod is grain and small seeds, and, in spring, the buds of certain 

 trees. 



The Bullfinch is a favorite cage-bird, soon reconciled to continement, and 

 capable of lieing tauglit to whistle whole airs of oi)era mus.'c with wonderful 

 exactness and beauty. 



Genus CARFODACUS, Kaup. 



C'lriKnlacus, Kaup, *'Knt\v, Eurup. Thitiw. 1829." (Type, Loxia crythrina. Pall.) 



Enjthrospizd, B<jXArAUTE, Saggio di una dist. met. 1831. 



Hccviorrhons, Swainson, Clas.s. Birds, II, 1837, 295. (Type, Frinrfllfa pnrpurc/t, Gmklix.) 



Char. Bill short, stout, vaulted ; the cuhnen decurved towards the end ; tlu' eoninjissure 

 nearly straitriit to the slightly decurved 

 end. A slight development of bristly 

 feathers along the sides of the hill, con- 

 cealing the nostrils. Tarsus .'shorter 

 than the middle toe ; lateral cla\ys 

 reaching to the base of the middle one. 

 Claw of hind toe much curved, smaller 

 than the middle one, and rather less 

 than the digital portion. Wings long 

 and pointed, reaching to the middle of 

 the tail, which is considerably shorter 

 than the wing, and moderately forked. 

 Colors red, or red and brown. Female 

 with the red re})laced by brown. 



Carpottnnis fron talis 



The genus Carpodanfa, including the American l*iirple Finches, is com- 

 jiosed of species the males of which are more or less red in full ])lumage, 

 while the females are brown-streaked. They are spread over Xorth xVmerica, 

 and species also occur in considerable numljers in Northern Europe and 

 Asia. 



Species and Varieties. 



A. Culmen only slightly curved. Tail and wing feathers edged with reddish in 



the male. 



a. ^. Crown much bright»^r purple than the rump or throat- 9* Without 

 lighter superoral and maxillary stripes, the whole head ])eing pretty uni- 

 formly streaked. 



1. C. cassini ^. Crown bright crimson; rest of head, breast, rump, 

 etc., much lighter purple-pink; lower fdil-roverfs mith a shaft h'ne of 

 dunTxy. Hah. Mountain regions of the Middle Province, south, through 

 the table-lands and alpine regions of Mexico, to Mirador. 



h. ^. Crown scarcely brighter {)urple than tiie rumj) or throat. 9- ^^'ith 

 conspicuous superoial and maxillary stripes. 



2. C. purpureus. Crown purple ; rest of head, l)reast, rump, etc., 

 nearly similar in tint ; hirer fail-corerfs without dusky shaft-lines. 



Purple tints of a rosy carmine cast; first quill longer than the 

 fourth. Hab. Eastern Province of Xorth America . xar. p urj* ure ns. 



