418 



V. 8. P. E. E. EXP. AXD SUBVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL KEPOET. 



List of specimens. 



CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie. 



Chrysomitris, Boie, Isis, 1828, 322. Type Fringilla spinus,Xi\rm. 

 .S^tragitlinus, Cab Mus. Hein. 1851, 159. Type Fringilla tristis, Linn. 

 Hypacanthus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 161. Type Carduelis spinoides,. Vig. 



Cb. — Bill rather acutely conic, the tip not very sharp ; the culmen slightly convex at the tip ; the commissure gently curved. 

 Nosrils concealed. Obsolete ridges on the upper mandible. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe ; outer toe rather the longer, 

 reaching to tlie bise of the middle one. Claw of hind toe shorter than the digital portion. Wings and tall as in .Segiothus. 



The colors are generally yellow, with black on the crown, throat, back, wings, and tail, varied sometimes with white. 



This genus differs from Aegiothus in a less acute and more curved bill, a much less develop- 

 ment of the bristly feathers at the base of the bill, the claw of hind toe shorter than its digital 

 portion, the claws shorter and less curved and attenuated, and the outer lateral toes not extending 

 beyond the base of the middle claw. 



The species exhibit many differences among themselves, especially in the size and shape of 

 the bill, which have been made the basis of generic distinctions. ^ 



The North American species of Chrysomitris are all readily distinguishable from each other. 

 Setting aside the Ch. pinus, in which all the feathers have brown centres, those of the head and 

 ciown included, we find the crown in all is black. They may, however, be first arranged into 

 those with white bands or edgings on the wings, and those with yellow. 



Top of head more or less black. 



Chrysomitris — Bill very large. Entire bases of tail feathers and of quills yellow. 

 Head all round black. Edges of greater wing covertsandoftertials yellow.. C. mageUanicus. 



Head all round black. Wing coverts and tertials black C. notatus. 



Crown and throat black (7. stanleyl. 



Ciown alone black.. C, yarrelli. 



