( 282 ) 



MEXICAN GOLDFINCH. 



Fbingilla Mexicana. 



PLATE CCCCXXXIII. Male and Female. 



I am indebted to my friend William Swainson, Esq., the well- 

 known naturalist, for skins of a pair of this pretty little bird, from 

 which I made the drawing of the Male and Female represented in the 

 Plate. As the species is found in Upper California, it may be consi- 

 dered as forming part of our Fauna. 



Cakduelis Mexicanus, Bwainson, Synopsis of Birds of Mexico, in Phil. Mag. 

 vol. i., N. Series, p. 435. 



Adult Male. Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 4. 



Bill shorter than the head, conical, compressed toward the end, very 

 stout, with the tip acute ; upper mandible with the dorsal line decli- 

 nate and very slightly convex, the edge rather distinct, the sides round- 

 ed, the edges sharp, declinate at the base ; lower mandible with the 

 angle short and wide, the dorsal line almost straight, being very slightly 

 concave, the sides convex, the edges inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils 

 basal, round, concealed by the feathers. 



Head large, broadly ovate ; neck short. Feet rather short ; tarsus 

 short, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, and two lateral plates 

 meeting behind so as to form a very sharp edge ; toes rather large, the 

 first stouter, the lateral nearly equal ; claws rather long, moderately 

 arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. 



Plumage very soft and blended ; short stiffish feathers at the base 

 of the bill. Wings rather long, little concave ; the second, third, and 

 fourth primaries cut out toward the end ; the second longest, the first 

 half a twelfth shorter, the third scarcely a quarter of a twelfth shorter 

 than the second, and exceeding the fourth by a twelfth ; some of the 

 secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail rather short, emarginate, the 

 feathers obliquely and narrowly rounded. 



Bill flesh-coloured, somewhat dusky above. Feet and claws yellow- 

 ish-brown. The upper part of the head is deep black ; the back and 



