188 Div. 1. VERTEBRATE ANIMALS.— AVES. Class 2. 



The Common or Song Linnet {Fr. cannabina, Lin.), is remarkable for the crown and breast plumage of the male, 

 which, in winter, is dingy reddish-brown, concealed by terminal edgings, that disappear in spring, at which season 

 the colour changes to bright crimson : the same enhancement of tint obtains, though to a less extent, in the preceding 

 species, the coronal and breast feathers of which are pink in winter, brightening considerably towards the breeding 

 season. It is remarkable that none of these birds ever acquire their gay tints in captivity, although they breed 

 freely when encaged. The same applies to several allied groups, as the Crossbills and Erythrospizte, or purple 

 Finches of the North, which latter are intermediate to the Linnets and Coiythi. 



There is a fourth British species, of mferior size to the last, wiih a smaller bill of a wax-yellow colour, and no 

 pink except on the rump ; the Twite, or Mountain Linnet (F. montium, Gm.), which abounds in the most northern 

 districts of the island, and upon upland heaths, migrating southward in winter. 



Various species more or less yellow are known as Serins or Canary-birds [the latter having the bill 

 comparatively bulging. 



We can only notice] the Canary, so abundantly bred in captivity (F. canaria, Lin.), the domesticated varieties 

 of which are so numerous that it is difficult to assign the original colour. It hybridizes with various other Finches, 

 producing mules that are more or less capable of propagation. [The original stock is still wild in the islands from 

 which this species takes its name : individuals occasionally learn to pronounce words with remarkable precision 

 and articulation. 



The Whidahs {Vidua, Cuv.) — 



Are African and Indian birds, with the beak of a Linnet, sometimes a little bulged at its base, [the 

 males of] which are distinguished by the extraordinary elongated covert feathers above the tail, [at 

 least during the breeding season]. 

 They grade without assignable interval into the Linnets. ■, 



• The Grosbeaks {Coccothraustes, Cuv.) — ^ 

 Possess an exactly conical beak, which is distinguished only by its extrerte thickness.'' ^* ■ *'' 



riie Haw Grosbeak (Loxia coccothraustes, Lin.), is one of those particularly worthy of the name, [though its beak 

 is slight in comparison with that of some others]. — Crown and back chestnut-brown, neck and rump ash-coloured, 

 [beak dark bluish in summer, flesh-coloured in winter ; the secondary feathers of the wing abruptly truncated. 

 Its sternal apparatus is figured at p. 178, as characteristic of the whole enormous group of Passerin<e\. This bird 

 inhabits wooded districts, nestles upon beech or fruit-trees, and feeds on all sorts of kernels. [Is not rare in some 

 parts of South Britain, but in general extremely wild and shy of approach.] 



The Green Grosbeak, Green Lhuiet, or Green-finch, (Lax. chloris, Lin.)— [One of the commonest of British 

 birds : its bill turns pale flesh-colour in summer, as in the Goldfinch. 



Among the very numerous groups of foreign Finches and Grosbeaks, a strongly marked subdivision is 



that of 



The Amaduvats {Amadina, Swainson), 



The beak of which is short and slightly bulging. 



Such is the Java Sparrow, so abundantly brought alive from the Indian .\rchipelago, and numerous diminutive 

 species of pleasing colours, several of which inhabit Australia. 



The Waxbills {Estrilda, Swainson) — 



Are nearly allied, and also approximate the Reedlings : they have a smaller and somewhat arched 



bill, and long graduated tail. 



Of several species, one is very commonly brought alive to this country, with delicate grey plumage transversely 

 rayed, and a crimson streak through the eye ; beneath the tail black, as in the Bearded Keedling. 

 They inhabit the same countries as the Amaduvats]. 



The Pitylus, Cuv. 



The beak as thick as in the Grosbeaks, a little compressed, arched above, and sometimes a sanent 

 angle at the middle of the upper jaw. 



[Among the various groups to which the above definition is more or less applicable, we may parti- 

 cularly notice one lately discovered at the Gallipago Isles, 



The Geospiza, Gould, — 

 Wherem the beak varies singularly in shape and stoutness, notwithstanding which there is an exceed- 

 ingly strong resemblance in every other character, which forbids their separation. They are chiefly 

 ground-birds, with sombre plumage and short tails. 



