FiilNCilLLlDJ!: — Tllfc: FINCHES. 529 



The species are usually .'iiiall, and of dull colnr, though Irenuently liaiid- 

 sonu'lv marked. Nearly all arc streaked ou the hack and crown, often on 

 the belly. None of tlie Tnited States s])ecies have any red, hlue, or oranj^T, 

 and the yellow, when ja'csunt, is as a superciliary streak, or on the elhow 

 edge oi" the wing. 



In the arrangement of this sulifamily, as of the others helonging to the 

 Friinjillida , wc do not i>rofess to give anything like a natural system, hut 

 merely an attempt at a convt'iiient artificial scheme by which the determina- 

 tion of the genera may be facilitated. 



\» Tail small and short; cotisidcral'ly or ilecidrdly shorter than the wiiiirs, 

 owing eitiuT to the eloniration ol" the wing or the shortening of the tail. Lateral 

 toes shorter than the middle without its elaw, Sj>eeies streaked ahove and 

 below. (Passerculeae.) 



a. Thiekly streaked everywhere ahove. on the sides, and aeross the hreast. 

 Wing pointed ; longest {'riniaries e(»nsideralily longer than the secondaries. 

 Tail forked. 



Centronyx. Hind elav veiy large : rather longer than its digit. The 

 hind toe and elaw, together, as long us or longer than the middle toe 

 and elaw. Other toes as in Passercihis. Claws gently ei.rved. Tertials 

 shortei" than the secondaries. Tail loiked, but the lateral feathers 

 shorter. 



Passerculus. Hind elaw as long as its digit: the toe (Mpial to the 

 middle one wiihout its elaw : lateral toes lidling eonsiderably short of 

 the middle elaw. Wings very long; first [)riinary longest. Tertials as 

 long as the primaries. Tail forked; feathers a<-ute. 



Poocaetes. Hind elaw shorter than its digit; the whoh' toe less than 

 the midtlle toe without its elaw. Lateral toes nearly e(pial to the 

 middle one, witlu»ut its claw. Tertials hut little longer than secon- 

 daries. Tail stilleiu'd. forked ; feathers acute, outer ones white. 



b. Moderately streaked above, on the sides, and t>n the breast, the latter 

 sometimes unstreaked ; the dorsal streaks broader, the others fainter than in 

 the last. Wings short, reaching a little beyond the base of the tail. Xett 

 much difference between the primaries and secondaries. Tail short, grad- 

 uated, and the feathers lanceolate, acute. 



Coturniculus. Bill short ; thick. Tertials almost etjual to the pri- 

 maries; truncate at the end. Claws small, weak ; hinder one shorter 

 than its digit. Outstretched feet not reachinsr the tip of the tail. Tail- 

 leathers not stitfened. (In one species tail nearly etpial to the wing.) 

 Ammodromus. Bill slender, .small at l)ase, and elongated. Tertials 

 not longer than the secondaries; rounded at the tip. Claws large, 

 iiinder one equal to its digit. Outstretched toes reachi-ng considerably 

 beyond tbe end of the stilVened. almost scansorial tail. 

 B. Tail longer and broader: nearly (»r quite as long as, sometimes a very little 

 longer than, the wings, which are rather lengthene<l. Tlie |>rimaries considerably 

 longcM- than tht» secondaries. None of the species streaked beneath, and the 

 back alone streaked above. (Spizelleae.) 

 a. Tail n^unded t»r slightly gra<luated. 



Chondestes. Tail considerably graduate<], not emarginated. Lateral 

 toes considerably shorter than the miildle toe. without its claw. Wings 

 very long, decidedlv longer than the tail, reaching the mi«ldle of the 

 07 



