INSESSORES. COCCOTHRAUSTES. 323 



GENUS COCCOTHRAUSTES, BRISS. GROSBEAK. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



BILL conical, very thick, bulging at the base, and rapidly 

 tapering to the point. Culmen rounded; commissure slight- 

 ly arched. Lower mandible of nearly equal thickness with 

 the upper; its cutting edges inflected, and fitting within 

 those of the upper. Nostrils basal, lateral, oblique, oval, 

 hidden by incumbent bristles. Wings long and acuminate ; 

 with the second and third quill- feathers of nearly equal 

 length, and rather longer than the first. Tail short, more 

 or less forked. Legs having the tarsi short, or not exceed- 

 ing the middle toe in length. Feet with the outer toe a lit- 

 tle longer than the inner one ; hind toe strong, with a broad 

 sole. Claws sharp and curved ; that of the hind toe longer 

 and thicker than that of the middle one. 



This genus, one of the typical forms of the present sub- 

 family, contains several species besides the Common Gros- 

 beak or Hawfinch, and the Green Grosbeak, both known as 

 British birds. By the power of their massive horny bill, the 

 larger species are enabled to break the shells of the harder 

 kinds of seeds and berries, upon which they principally sub- 

 sist. The genus possesses an extensive geographical range, 

 several species being found not only in different parts of the 

 Old World, but also in America, where Coccothraustes ves- 

 pertina of COOPER appears true to the type. 



