CHAPTER III. 



The Perching-Birds, — continued. 



The Finches. 



Family FRINGILLID.Z. 



The finches comprise a large number of genera of small hard-billed and seed-eating 

 birds, distributed over the northern and temperate regions of both the Eastern 

 and Western Hemispheres, although unknown in Australia. They are characterised 

 by the smooth edges of the mandibles ; the doubly laminated hinder-surface of the 

 metatarsus ; the presence of nine primary quills of which the first and second 

 are approximately equal in length ; while the secondary quills reach about 

 three-quarters the length of the wing. The tail has twelve feathers ; the beak is 

 more or less conical in shape, with the nostrils pierced close to the line of the fore- 

 head, and near the culmen ; and the bristles at the rictus of the gape are few and 

 short. The lower mandible has no backward prolongation behind the quadrate 

 bone. In the nestling the plumage is variable ; and the sexes are generally unlike. 

 By Mr. Oates the finches are divided, from the characters of the skull and beak, 

 into three subfamilies, of which the first is 



The Grosbeak Group. 



Subfamily GOCCOTHRA USTINOV. 



A general stoutness of beak is accompanied in this group by marked develop- 

 ment in the depth of the lower mandible ; many of the species, such as the evening 

 grosbeak of North America, being noticeable for the beauty of their coloration. 

 The members of the grosbeak group are inhabitants of the northern regions of 

 both the Old and New Worlds, and extend as far south as India. 



These birds have the bill moderately stout and rather acute ; 

 the distance between the nostrils being equal to the depth of the 

 mandible. Green and yellow predominate in the plumage. The greenfinches 

 inhabit the whole of Europe, as well as North -West Africa, Palestine, and 

 Turkestan ; while they are also represented in Eastern Siberia, Japan, and China. 

 The common greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris) is fond of gardens and small planta- 

 tions, especially during the summer, when its monotonous song is heard at intervals 

 throughout the day. It has, however, some soft and plaintive notes which, once 

 heard, will always be remembered with pleasure. Nor is this bird devoid of 



