SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS xi 



FAMILY FRINGILLID.E 



(Finches) 



Remarkable for the shortness, thickness, and powerful structure of the 

 bill ; the upper and lower mandibles are usually equally thick, and then- 

 height and breadth are nearly alike, so that the bill when closed presents 

 the appearance of a short cone, divided in the middle by the gape. By its 

 aid they break open the hard woody capsules and fruit-stones containing 

 the seeds and kernels which form their chief food. At nesting-time many 

 species live on insect larvae, with which the young are almost exclusively fed. 

 The wings have nine visible primaries. This family is one of immense extent, 

 consisting of relatively small birds. 



34. Ligurinus (Greenfinch). Bill compressed towards tip, with scarcely 



perceptible notch at point ; nostrils basal, concealed by stiff feathers 

 directed forwards ; wings rather pointed, first quill obsolete, second, 

 third and fourth nearly equal and longest. Tail rather short, 

 slightly forked. Tarsus scutellate in front ; toes moderate ; claws 

 arched and laterally grooved. Page 86 



35. CoccoTHRAUSTES (Hawfinch). Bill tapering rapidly to point, culmen 



rounded ; mandibles nearly equal, edges inflected and slightly in- 

 dented. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, nearly hidden by projecting 

 and recurved frontal plumes. Wings with first quill obsolete, 

 third and fourth primaries nearly equal, sixth, seventh, and eighth 

 curved outwards. Tail short, and nearly square, Tarsus scutellate 

 in front, covered at sides with single plate, stout and short ; claws 

 moderately curved, rather short and strong. Page 87 



36. Carduelis (Goldfinch and Siskin). Bill a rather elongated cone, 



compressed at the tip, and finely pointed ; wings long, pointed ; 

 first three primaries nearly equal and the longest j tail slightly 

 forked. Page 88 



37. Passer (Sparrows). Bill somewhat arched above ; lower mandible 



rather smaller than the upper ; first three primaries longest. 



Page 92 



38. Fringilla (Chaffinch and Brambling). Bill straight, sharp, pointed ; 



mandibles nearly equal ; first primary a little shorter than the 

 second, much shorter than the third and fourth, which are nearly 

 equal and the longest. Page 95 



39. Acanthis (Linnet, Redpolls, Twite). Bill a short straight cone, 



compressed at the tip ; wings long, pointed ; third primary some- 

 what shorter than the first and second, which are equal and the 

 longest ; tail forked. Page 98 



40. Pyrrhula (Bullfinch). Bill short and thick, the sides tumid ; upper 



mandible much arched and bending over the lower one ; first 

 primary nearly equal to the fifth, second a little shorter than the 

 third and fourth, which are the longest. Page 101 



41. Loxia (Crossbill). Bill thick at the base; both mandibles equally 



curved, hooked at the tips, and crossing each other at the points. 



Page 103 



42. Emberiza (Buntings, Yellow-hammer). Bill with upper mandible 



not wider than lower, edges of both inflected and those of latter 

 gradually cut away (sinuated) ; the palate generally furnished 

 with a hard bony knob ; wings moderate, first primary obsolete, 

 second, third and fourth nearly equal. Tail rather long and slightly 

 B.B. C 



