xvi INTRODUCTION. 
nearly hidden by projecting and recurved frontal plumes. Wings with the 
first quill obsolete, the third and fourth primaries nearly equal, the sixth, 
seventh, and eighth curved outwards. Tail short, and nearly square. 
Tarsus scutellated in front, covered at the sides with a single plate, stout and 
short ; claws moderately curved, rather short and strong (p. 171). 
‘CARDUELIS, Brtsson.—Bill nearly conical but slightly compressed, the point 
slender and sharp. Nostrils basal, lateral, round, and hidden by projecting 
and recurved plumes. Wings rather long and pointed; the first primary 
obsolete ; the second, third, and fourth nearly equal, but the second the 
longest. Tail more or less moderate, and forked. Tarsus short and rather 
stout, scutellated in front, covered at the sides by a single plate; claws 
moderate (p. 173). 
‘Serinus, K. ZL. Koch.—Bill strong, short, somewhat conical, but very broad at 
the base and with the distal half suddenly diminishing to the tip ; mandibles 
nearly equal in size, but the upper a little longer than the lower ; edges 
plain. Nostrils basal, supernal, round, and hidden by projecting and re- 
curved frontal plumes. Gape straight. Wings with the first primary so 
small as to seem wanting ; the second, third, and fourth nearly equal, but the 
third a trifle the longest. Tail moderate, rather deeply forked. Tarsus 
slender, andshorter than the middle toe, scutellated in front, covered at the 
sides by a single plate ; claws small and rather weak (p. 177). 
PassER, Brésson.—Bill somewhat conical, but bulging above and below, longer 
than deep ; upper mandible larger than the lower, edges nearly plain. Nostrils 
basal, lateral, rounded, almost hidden by projecting and recurved frontal 
plumes. Gape straight. Wings with the first primary small and attenuated 
but distinctly developed, the third or fourth rather the longest, but the 
second, third and fourth—sometimes even the fifth—not very unequal. 
Tail moderate or short, and nearly square. Tarsus stout, nearly as long 
as the middle toe, scutellated in front, covered at the sides by a single plate ; 
claws moderately curved, rather short (p. 179). 
FRINGILLA, Lzzne@us.—Bill hard, straight, somewhat long, nearly conical, but 
bulging slightly, and pointed ; mandibles nearly equal, edges plain. Nostrils 
basal, lateral, oval, partly hidden by projecting and recurved frontal plumes. 
Gape straight. Wings with the first primary obsolete, the second always 
shorter than the third, which, or the fourth, is longest in the wing. Tail 
moderately long and decidedly forked. Tarsus stout, rather short, scutellated 
in front, covered at the sides with a single plate ; claws moderately curved, 
rather short (p. 183). 
Linota, Zzzn2eus.— Bill hard, nearly conical, but slightly swollen; the point 
slender and sharp. Nostrils basal, round, and hidden more or less by pro- 
jecting and recurved plumes. Gape nearly straight. Wings long, somewhat 
pointed ; the first primary obsolete, the second, third, and fourth nearly 
equal, and either the second or third the longest in the wing. Tail rather 
long and forked. Tarsus short, scutellated in front, covered at the sides by a 
single plate; toes stout ; claws moderate, the hind claw rather large (p. 187). 
PYRRHULA, Brisson.—Bill hard, short, broad, and thick at the base, bulging at 
the sides ; culmen rounded ; upper mandible considerably longer than the 
lower, and overhanging its point. Nostrils basal, round, hidden by plume- 
lets. Gape slightly arched. Wings rather short ; the first primary obsolete, 
