210 PASSERINE. PYRRHULA. 



Loxia leucoptera, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i. 844. Loxia leucop- 

 tera, Ternm. Man. d'Ornith. iii. 243. Loxia leucoptera, 

 White-winged Crossbill, MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, iii. 689. 



GENUS LXYIII. PYRRHULA. BULLFINCH. 



Bill very short, strong, bulging, subpentagonal, and about 

 as high as broad at the base ; upper mandible with its dor- 

 sal line convex, the sides much rounded, the edges sharp, 

 without notch, but forming a wide sinus or curve toward the 

 tip, which is decurved, and contracts to a narrow, rather 

 blunt point, extending considerably beyond the lower ; lower 

 mandible with the angle very short, the dorsal line convex, 

 the sides much rounded, the edges involute, with a thin an- 

 gular prominence near the middle, the tip slightly compress- 

 ed. Mouth of moderate width ; tongue very short, oblong, 

 concave above ; oesophagus dilated into a crop ; proventri- 

 culus oblong ; stomach a strong gizzard ; intestine of mode- 

 rate length and width ; coeca very small. Nostrils small, 

 round, basal, concealed. Eyes rather small. Ear large. 

 Head rather large ; neck short ; body moderate. Tarsus 

 very short, compressed, with seven scutella ; toes slender and 

 short, the lateral about equal ; claws rather long, arched, 

 much compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft 

 and blended ; wings of moderate length, the second, third, 

 and fourth quills longest ; tail rather long, emarginate. 



136. PYRRHULA PILEATA. HOODED BULLFINCH. 



Male with the upper part of the head, a band round the base 

 of the lower mandible, the wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail 

 bluish-black ; the back ash-grey, the rump white, the lower 

 parts bright red. Female with the same parts black, the back 

 brownish-grey, the lower parts dull yellowish-brown. Young 

 with the upper parts greyish -brown, the lower yellowish- 

 brown. 



Male, 6, 9i, 3yV, T \, ft, T V, T V Female, 5if, 9f. 



Generally distributed in Britain, occurring in most of the 

 wooded and cultivated districts, although not very common 

 any where. Its flight is quick and undulated, its ordinary note 

 a soft plaintive whistle, its song short and mellow, its food 

 seeds of various kinds. Its nest is placed on a bush or tree, 



