ORDER PASSERES. 309 



differ among themselves in the relative character of the gross- 

 ness of the beak, so that where the linnets shall end and the 

 grosbeaks begin, must be, to a certain extent, arbitrary, as 

 must be also the introduction of subgenera, or minor groups. 

 In many instances, it is true, generic characters are sufficiently 

 marked by the hand of Nature ; but in many more, the 

 passage from one genus to another or others, is so nicely 

 graduated, as to be imperceptible. 



The numerous species of the grosbeaks differ among them- 

 selves widely in habits and locality. Particular species are 

 confined to particular countries; but the genus is spread 

 over almost all moderate climates. The majority of them 

 live in pairs only, solitary and silent ; but others asso- 

 ciate in flocks, and have a pleasing song. Some resort to the 

 interior of woods, while others are found in the open country, 

 in coppices, or in low and marshy situations ; these construct 

 their nests on the branches of elevated trees, or in the midst 

 of thick bushes, while those commit their young to the shel- 

 ter of some hole. In the nature of their aliment they seem 

 more consistent. This, as is sufficiently indicated by the 

 character of the bill, is composed principally of kernels and 

 hard grains, from their facility in breaking which the word 

 coccothraustes has been applied by Brisson, generally, to them 

 all, though Gesner first used it, to distinguish the common 

 species. 



The Green Grosbeak (Loxia Chloris) is frequently con- 

 founded with the buntings, though destitute of that osseus 

 tubercle in the bill which characterizes that genus. It is 

 found in all Europe, and in northern Asia as far as Kamt- 

 schatka ; its favourite resorts are orchards, gardens, and 

 woods, and particularly the evergreens. Some of them are, 

 it seems, found all the year in France ; but many migrate, 

 during winter, to the south. They are here, also, during all 



