AVES. 499 



The finches. Social birds, living mostly in woods, some also in rocky 

 places, and some in the neighbourhood of human dwellings. The genus 

 F ring ilia of LINN.EUS is more natural than his genus Loxia, and therefore 

 has undergone fewer modifications. Some indeed of the species of his 

 genus Loxia required to be added to it, and others to be referred to 

 Amadina (see above, p. 497). Still, however, in the genus Fringilla thus 

 limited, many subdivisions have been offered, since the bill especially is 

 subject to many changes in size and form. 



a) With bitt short, broad at the base, with culmen obtuse, declivous, sub- 

 straight. Fringilla Cuv. 



Sp. Fringilla ccelebs L., BUFF. PI. enl. 54, fig. r, LESSON Ornith., PI. 60, 

 fig. i, NAUM. Taf. 118; the chaffinch, le pincon, der Such-Fink, gemeine 

 Fink; a very well known bird, breast in the male ruddy, in the female 

 grey ; back, above the base of the tail, green, a white and a yellow transverse 

 stripe on the wings; Fringilla montifringitta L., NAUM. Taf. 119, the 

 mountain-finch; Fringilla chloris, Loxia chloris L., BUFF. PL enl. 267, 

 fig. 2, NAUM. Taf. 120; the green grosbeak. 



Amongst the exotic species to this division may be referred Fringilla 

 canarina L., Crithagra canaria SWAINS., BUFF. PL enl. 202, i, of which 

 the yellow variety, the canary, is dispersed everywhere as a chamber-bird. 



b) With bill short, acute, subcompressed. Linaria BECHST., Linota 

 BONAP. 



Sp. Fringilla canabina L., BUFF. PL enl. 485, fig. i, NAUM. Taf. 121; the 

 common linnet, &c. 



c) With bill very short, broad at the base, with culmen flat, compressed 

 at the tip, acute. Tail forked. Serinus of some, Spinus KOCH, BREHM, 

 Chrysomitris BOIE. 



Sp. Fringilla spinus L., BUFF. PL enl. 485, fig. 3, NAUM. Taf. 125 ; the 

 siskin, &c. 



d) With bill moderate, subulate, with tip much compressed. Carduelis 

 Cuv. (Tail short, subemarginate ; wings with first and second quills longest 

 of all.) 



Sp. Fringilla carduelis L., BUFF. PL enl. 4, LESSON Ornith. PI. 60, fig. 2, 

 NAUM. Taf. 124, figs, i, 2; the goldfinch, la chardonneret, der Distelfink; 

 wings black, with a bright yellow spot, throat and head around the bill 

 blood-red, especially in the male ; tail black with white margin. The name 

 carduelis is borrowed from the food which it willingly seeks, the seeds of 

 thistles and of many other plants from the natural family of the composites. 



e) With bitt conical, culmen subarcuate, tip emarginate, curved. (Tail 

 even.) Pyrgita Cuv. 



Sp. Fringilla montana L., BUFF. PL enl. 267, fig. i, LESSON Ornith. PI. 62, 

 fig. i, NAUM. Taf. 1 16, figs, i, 2 ; the mountain-linnet, le friquet; Frin- 

 gilla domestica L., BUFF. PL enl. 6, fig. i, NAUM. Taf. 115; the house- 

 sparrmv, le moineau. 



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