PASSERINE BIRDS. 143 



as greatly to enhance the beauty of the whole coat. The female is without the yellow line upon the 

 head and the white spot upon the hinder quills ; the other feathers are paler and greyer in their 

 tints ; some of the wing-feathers are tipped with white. 



We learn from Townsend that the Evening Hawfinches are very numerous in the pine forests of 

 Columbia, and so tame as to become an easy prey. Their song, which is popularly supposed to be 

 only heard in the twilight, may in favourable localities be distinguished during the entire day, but as 

 soon as night approaches they withdraw to the tree tops, and do not stir again till morning dawns. 

 They seem to be of a social disposition, and are rarely seen living alone. They feed principally upon 

 the seeds of pine cones, but likewise consume the larvse of large black ants in great quantities. Their 

 cry when in search of food has a somewhat screeching sound ; the actual song commences about 

 noon ; this latter is a most dismal performance, and its tones are so pitiful that the bird itself seems to 

 feel their influence, and pauses from time to time as though overcome by its own melancholy music, 

 recommencing, however, very shortly, but with the same result as before. Nothing further is known 

 as to the habits of this beautiful bird, which may be reckoned among the greatest rarities in our 

 collections. 



THE LARGE-BEAKED HAWFINCH. 



The Large-beaked Hawfinch (Geospiza magnirostris) is a very remarkable species, inhabiting 

 the Galapagos Islands, and is at once distinguishable bv its enormous beak and short tail. The 

 plumage of the old male is raven black, that of the female brown ; the head is horn colour, and the 

 feet dusky. These birds spend the greatest part of the day in searching for food upon the ground, and 

 Darwin mentions having seen one of them riding fearlessly upon the back of a lizard. 



The PARROT FINCHES (Pityli) are now generally included amongst the Conirostres, and 

 associated with the Hawfinches. They are known by their short wings, long tail, and peculiar beak, 

 which is very strong, thick, and bulging, the edge being more or less compressed, and slightly angular. 

 The first quill is always very short, and the third and fourth usually the longest. The wings are 

 powerful, the tarsus high, and the toes of moderate length. The plumage is thick, soft, and entirely 

 without metallic brilliancy. In colour it is usually grey or greenish grey, occasionally, but very rarely, 

 marked with reddish yellow, black, or some bright colour. South America is the true habitat of these 

 birds, which are seldom found in the northern parts of the Western Hemisphere. They are for the most 

 part incapable of song, although some few are highly gifted in this respect. In their general habits 

 they resemble the Hawfinches, and, like them, subsist upon seeds, berries, and insects. 



THE ROSE-BREASTED HAWFINCH. 



The Rose-breasted Hawfinch (Coccoborus ludovicianus) is an American bird, equally remark- 

 able for its beauty of plumage and sweetness of song. It is abost seven inches long and eleven inches 

 across ; the wing measures three inches, and the tail rather more than two. The body is compact, 

 the wings broad and of moderate length ; the tail comparatively short and somewhat rounded ; the 

 beak short, strong, pointed, and almost conical ; the upper mandible slightly hooked. The plumage is 

 soft, brilliant, and very striking in its colours. The entire head, as well as the upper part and nape of 

 the neck, back, wings, and tail is glossy black ; the first row of feathers on the wing-covers and the 

 tips of those on the second row are white, as are the roots of the primary quills, the wings being thus 

 bordered by a double band of white. The inner web of the three exterior tail-feadiers is also white, 

 and the sides of the breast, under part of the body, lower portion of the neck, and middle of the 

 breast, of a magnificent carmine red, the latter colour being also visible upon the lower wing-covers. 

 The beak is whitish, the eyes are brown, and the feet greyish brown. The plumage of the female is 



