470 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Tlio ejx^s of this bird vary t'roiii Tour to six in number, and are of a pale blue 

 wliicli readily fades into a Iduisli-white, and are marked with spots and lines 

 of a dark brown or black. They are of an ehjngate-oval sliape, and measure 

 from .82 to .75 of an inch in length, with an average breiwlth of .00. 



Genus CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie. 



Chrimmitris, Boie, Isis, 1828, 32'J. (Tyi)*', Friiujifh tpinus, Linn.) 

 AstraijnUtiuSy Cab, Mus. Htin. 1851, l.")!». (Type, FriiujiUtt tristis, Link.) 

 JIif2>acanfhics, Cab. Mus. Htin. 1851, 101. C^yi•^^ Carduelus spiiiouks.) 



Gex. Cuar. Bill rather acutely conic, the tip not very sharp ; the eulnien slightly convex 



at the tip; the coiniiiissure gently curved. 

 Nostrils concealed. Obsolete ridges on the 

 upper mandible. Tarsi shorter than the 

 middle toe ; outer toe rather the longer, 

 reaching to the hmiQ of the inid«lle one. 

 Claw of hind toe shorter than the digital 

 portion. Wings and tail as in ^giothus. 



The colors are generally yellow, with 

 black on the crown, throat, back, wings, 

 and tail, varied sometimes with white. 



The females want the bright markings 



Chrysomitris tristis. of the male. 



Tiiis genus differs from ^-Ef/iothus in a less acute and more curved bill, a 

 much less development of the bristly feathers at the base of the bill, the 

 claw of the hind toe shorter than its digital portion, the claws shorter and 

 less curved and attenuated, and the outer lateral toes not extending beyond 

 the base of the middle claw. 



The species exhibit many differences among themselves, especially in the 

 size and shape of the bill, which have lieen made the basis of generic dis- 

 tinctions. They may be distinguished as follows : — 



Species and Varieties. 



A* No streaks anywhere on plumage ; base of tail-feathers black or white. 

 Sexes dissimilar. (Chrysornitns.) 

 a. No yellow on the wings. 



1. C. tristis. Inner webs of tail-feathers always whitish terminally 

 (exce})t in Jnv.). ^. Forehead and crown, wings and tail, deep black; 

 rest of plumage, inchnling the back, rich lemon-yellow ; tail-coverts 

 white. 9- Body grayish above, ding}'^ whitish beneath, stained with 

 yellow; no black on head ; wings and tail duller black. Juv. Fulvous- 

 umber above, with markings of reddish-ochraceous on the wings ; be- 

 neath, dilute-yellow washed with fulvous. Ilah. Whole of temperate 

 and Avarm North America. 



2. C. psaltria. Inner webs of tail-feathers never whitish terminally. 

 ^. Beneath yellow, including the 1ow<m' tail-coverts ; above black, with 



or without olive-green on the back. 9 • Without any black, the yellow ^ 

 duller. - 



