FINCHES. 173 



have arranged the genera (represented in New England) in 

 what seemed the best sequence. 



The position of the Larks (^Alaudidce, § 16) is apparently- 

 doubtful. The typical Sky Lark of Europe (^Alauda arven- 

 sis) has been introduced into this country ; but yet the true 

 American Larks belong to the subfamily — 



Calandritinm *(fig. 11). They are characterized as follows : 

 BUI (in Otocoris) twice as long as high, pointed, and with 

 the upper outline convex ; nostrils concealed ; primaries nine ; 

 tarsi " scuteUate and blunt behind as in front, with a deep 

 groove along the inner side, and a slight one, or none, on the 

 outer face " ; ^^ hind claw very long. The common Shore Lark 

 is the type. 



I. LOXIA. 



A. CUEVIEOSTEA. MINOR. Red Crosshill. Common 

 Crossbill. To be found in Massachusetts as an extremely 

 irregular visitor from the north, f 



a. Mandibles crossed (as in B^. About six inches long. 

 (5 , chiefly of an almost brick red, with wings and tail dusky 

 or nearly black. $ , often with a strong yellowish suffusion. 

 Wings and tail, dark. Above, of a shade varying from brown- 

 ish to olive, with dusky streaks. Rump, almost yellow. Be- 

 neath, paler, more or less streaked. 



6. The nest is built in the early part of spring, or even, it 

 is said, in winter. Mr. Paine found one in a leafless elm, in 

 East Eandolph, Vermont, early in the month of March. The 

 parents were so tame that it was necessary to remove them 

 forcibly from their eggs, which " were four in number, and 

 measured .85 X -53 of an inch. They have a greenish white 

 ground and are beautifully blotched, marbled, and dotted with 

 various shades of lilac and purplish brown." 



c. The Crossbill, on account of his many peculiarities, is 



* This subfamily is not recognized t Breeds throughout the conifer- 



in the A. 0. U. Check-List. — W. B. ous forests of northern New England, 



^' In the Oscines, " the tarsus is nor- whence it wanders southward at irreg- 



mally covered on either side with two ular intervals, visiting southern New 



entire homy plates, that meet hehind England, often in great numbers, usu- 



in a sharp ridge." (Coues.) ally in aiitumn and winter, hut fre- 

 quently at all seasons. — W. B. 



