INSESSORES. FRINGILLIDJ^:. 271 



for running upon the even surface of the earth, as exempli- 

 fied in the Larks (genus Alauda). 



By Mr Vigors, the five primary divisions of this tribe 

 are considered to be the families Friiigillid(e, Sturnid^^ Cor- 

 vida, Buceridfe, and Loxiada. Mr Swainson, however, 

 adopts an arrangement rather different, considering Loxiadcn 

 and FringiUidcB of Vigors as forming but one family, and 

 making his fifth to consist of the MusophagklcB (or plan- 

 tain-eater), &c., which birds were left by Mr Vigors as a 

 constituent part of the scansorial tribe. With this disposition 

 of Mr Svvainson's I feel inclined to agree, as I think the 

 direct characteristics of the Musophagid^ are more imme- 

 diately and intimately in accordance with the rest of the 

 Conirostral groups, than with those of the Scansorial, to 

 which latter tribe that family nevertheless leads the way, 

 thus forming; a link in the chain of connection. 



Family I. FRINGILLID^. 



This family, with which we commence the circle of the 

 tribe, embraces all the nvunerous forms and genera com- 

 monly known by the name of Finches (or haj'd-billed birds.) 

 They are distinguished from the more typical divisions by 

 their inferior size, and by their short, strong, thick, and per- 

 fectly conical-shaped bill. In the aberrant forms, as might 

 be expected, these pecuhar characteristics become modified, 

 so as to render them the mediums of connection with the 

 other groups, families, and orders. By Mr Swainson, the 

 five subordinate circles of this family are thus enumerated, 

 Coccothraustina and Tanagrina, constituting the nominal 

 or typical groups ; and Maudina, Fringillina, and Pyrrhu- 

 lina, the aberrant. Of the second subfamily here mentionedj 

 the British Islands cannot produce any specimen. 



