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TOWNSEND'S FINCH. 



Fbingilla Townsendi. 



PLATE CCCCXXIV. Female, 



This species was discovered on the shores of the Columbia River, 

 by my friend Dr Townsend, who sent me a perfect specimen, ticketed 

 " Female, February 15th 1836," together with the following notice. 

 " I found this species numerous on the plains of the Colorado of the 

 west, in the Rocky Mountains. It is a very active and rather shy bird, 

 keeping constantly in the low bushes of wormwood, and on the ground, 

 in the vicinity. It appears to be partially gregarious, six or eight 

 being mostly seen together. Its voice is a sharp quick chirp, and oc- 

 casionally a low weak warble."" It bears a considerable resemblance 

 to Fringilla iliaca of our Eastern Districts, but is darker, and wants 

 the light-coloured bands with which the wings of that species are 

 marked. Other differences will be found on comparing the following 

 description with that of the bird above mentioned, to which, however, 

 it is so nearly allied that it must evidently be placed in the same sub- 

 ordinate group. 



FaiNGiLLA Townsendi. 



Female. Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 7. 



Bill short, rather robust, conical, acute ; upper mandible rather 

 broader than the lower, almost straight in its dorsal outline, as is the 

 lower, both being rounded on the sides, the lower with inflected sharp 

 edges, the upper with a slight prominence on the edges anterior to the 

 nostrils ; the gape-line nearly straight, a little deflected at the base. 

 Nostrils basal, roundish, open, partially concealed by the feathers. 



Head rather large, broadly ovate ; neck shortish ; body full. Legs 

 of moderate length, rather strong, tarsus shorter than the middle toe 

 and claw, covered anteriorly with seven long scutella ; toes scutellate 

 above, free, the lateral nearly equal, the hind toe stout, and with its 

 claw nearly as long as the third. Claws very long, slightly arched, 

 slender, compressed, laterally grooved, acute, that of the hind toe 

 largest. 



