NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Family PRINGILLID^. — Tut: Finches. {Cuntiautd.) 



Genus SPIZELLA, Honap. 



Spizdiii, !'.<»SAi'. (Jrog. ami Coinj). List, 1838. (Tv[«', Frimillla nnuulensis, I. aim.) 

 Spinitcs, Cabams, Mils. H.-iii. 18.'»1, VVi. (Vy^i-, Fiiiujillusmialis, Wii..s.) 



Gkx. Chau. Dill conical, the nutliiu-s sliL'-litly cnivod; the lower nian«lihle cleci<lc(lly 



larger than the upper; tlif eonnnissiire 

 <rently .sinnated; tiie r(»ot" of the mouth 

 not knoljlied. Feet sleinler ; tarsus 

 rather loiiirer than the inifltllf toe ; the 

 hinder toe a little longer than the outer 

 lateral, which .slightly exceed.s the 

 inner; the outer claw reaching the base 

 of the middle one, and half as lonjr 

 as its toe. Claws moderately curved. 

 Tertiaries and secondaries nearly equal ; 

 wing somewhat pointed, reaching not 

 quite to the middle of the tail. First 

 quill a little shorter than the second and 

 Spizdia monticola. ^^^^^^^ to ^Y\e fifth; third lorgest. Tail 



rather long, moderately forked, and divaricated at the tip; the feathers rather narrow. 

 Hack streaked ; rump and beneath immaculate. Young streaked beneath. 



This genus differs from ZonofricJiia principally iu the smaller size and 

 longer and forked, instead of rounded tail. 



Birds of the year of this genus are very difficult to distinguish, even ])y 

 size, except in monticoJa. The more immature hirds are also very closely 

 related. In these the entire absence of streaks on a plunil)eous head jioint 

 to atrigularis ; the same character in a reddish cap, and a reddish upper 

 mandible to pusilla ; a dusky loral spot with dark streaks and generally a 

 rufous shade on top of head, to .^ocialis. S. hreweri, with a streaked head, 

 lacks the dusky lore and chestnut shade of feathers. S. paUicJa generally 

 has a median light stripe in the cap, and a dusky mandibular line. 



Common- Characters. Interscapular region with black streaks. Rump and 

 lower parts without streaks (except in young). Wing with two narrow light 

 bands (indistinct in atrigularis). 



VOL. II. 1 



\CA/lNCiAL LIBRARY 

 iCTOf^lA, 3 C. 



