470 



NORTH AXfERTCAN BIRDS. 



The eggs of tliis bird vary tioin ibur to six in iiuiiiber, and are of a pale blue 

 wliich readily liidos into u bluish-white, and are marked witli spots and lines 

 of a dark brown or black. They are of an elongate-oval shape, and measure 

 from .82 to .73 of an inch in length, with an average breadth of .GO. 



Gkxis CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie. 



Chri/.iom i/rln, Boik, Isis, 1828, 32-.'. (Typt', FrimjiUn .iphiiii, \ass.) 

 Astrnijnliniis, V.\i\. Mus. Ilciii. 18.51, l;".!!. (Typf, Fihigilla trislU, LiNN.) 

 lli/pacaii/him, Cab. Mus. Hiiu. 1851, 101. ^Ty^MJ, Cardudis spinoidcs.) 



Gkx. Char. Bill ratlu-r acutely conic, the tip not very .sharp ; the oulmon .slightly convex 



at the tip; the conimi,«sure gently eurvetl. 

 No.stril.s concealed. Obsolete ridges on the 

 up|)er niandiljle. Tarsi .shorter than the 

 middle toe ; outer toe rather the longer, 

 rea(;liing to the base of the middle one. 

 CI i\v of hind toe shorter than the digital 

 portion. Wing.s and tail as in Aiyiothm. 



The colors are generally yellow, with 

 black on th' crown, throai, back, wings, 

 and tail, varied sometimes with white. 

 The females want the bright markings 



Chrijsomitris trislis. of the male. 



Tills genus diifers from yEf/ioihus in a less acute and more curved bill, a 

 much less development of the bristly feathers at the base of tlie bill, tlie 

 claw of the hind toe shorter than its digital portion, the claws shorter and 

 less curved and attenuated, and the outer lateral toes not extending beyond 

 the base of the middle claw. 



The species exhiljit many differences among themselves, especially in the 

 size and shape of the bill, wiiich liave been made the basis of generic dis- 

 tinctions. They may be distinguished as follows : — 



Species and Varieties. 



A. No streaks anywhere on phnnago ; base of tail-feathers black or white. 

 Se.xcs dissimil.'u-. (C'lii\i/son.ilr{.i.) 

 a. No yellow on the wings. 



1. C. tristis. Inner webs rf tail-feathers always wliiti.sli torminallj 

 (except in Jill'.). $. Fuioiiead and crown, wings and tail, deep black; 

 rest of plumage, ini'li.ding the back, rich Icmon-yellow ; tail-coverts 

 white. 9. Body grayish above, dingy whitish beneath, stained witli 

 yellow ; no black on head ; wings and tail duller black. Juv. Pulvous- 

 umlier above, with markings of reddi.sh-ochraccous on the wings ; be- 

 neath, dilute-yellow wa.shed with fulvou.s. Hah, Whole of temperate 

 and warm North America. 



2. C. psaltria. Inner webs of tail-feathers never whiti.sli terminally. 

 $. Beneath yellow, indiKling the lower tnil-coverls ; above lil.nck, with 

 or without olive-green on the back. 9. Without any black, the yellow 

 duller. 



