SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS xl 



FAMILY FRINGILLID^ 



(Finches) 



Remarkable for the shortness, thickness, and powerful structure of the 

 bill ; the upper and lower mandibles are usually equally thick, and their 

 height and breadth are nearly alike, so that the bill when closed presents 

 the appearance of a short cone, divided in the middle by the gape. By its 

 aid they break open the hard woody capsules and fruit-stones containing 

 the seeds and kernels which form their chief food. At nesting-time many 

 species live on insect larvae, with which the young are almost exclusively fed. 

 The wings have nine visible primaries. This family is one of immense extent, 

 consisting of relatively small birds. 



34. LiGURiNUs (Greenfinch). Bill compressed towards tip, with scarcely 



perceptible notch at point ; nostrils basal, concealed by stifi feathers 

 directed forwards ; wings rather pointed, first quill obsolete, second, 

 third and fourth nearly equal and longest. Tail rather short, 

 slightly forked. Tarsus scuteUate in front ; toes moderate ; claws 

 arched and laterally grooved. Page 86 



35. CoccOTHRAUSTES (Hawfinch). BiU tapering rapidly to point, culmen 



rounded ; mandibles nearly equal, edges inflected and slightly in- 

 dented. NostrUs basal, lateral, oval, nearly hidden by projecting 

 and recurved frontal plumes. Wings with first quill obsolete, 

 third and fourth primaries nearly equal, sixth, seventh, and eighth 

 curved outwards. Tail short, and nearly square, Tarsus scutellate 

 in front, covered at sides with single plate, stout and short ; claws 

 moderately curved, rather short and strong. Page 87 



36. CarduAlis (Goldfinch and Siskin). Bill a rather elongated cone, 



compressed at the tip, and finely pointed ; wings long, pointed ; 

 first three primaries nearly equal and the longest ; taU slightly 

 forked. Page 88 



37. Passer (Sparrows). BiU somewhat arched above ; lower mandible 



rather smaller than the upper ; first three primaries longest. 



Page 92 



38. Fringilla (Chafiinch and BrambUng). Bill straight, sharp, pointed ; 

 » mandibles nearly equal ; first primary a httle shorter than the 



second, much shorter than the third and fourth, which are nearly 

 equal and the longest. Page 95 



39. AcANTHis (Linnet, Redpolls, Twite). BiU a short straight cone, 



compressed at the tip ; wings long, pointed ; third primary some- 

 what shorter than the first and second, which axe equal and the 

 longest ; taU forked. Page 98 



40. Pyrrhula (BuUfinch). BiU short and thick, the sides tnmid ; upper 



mandible much arched and bending over the lower one ; first 

 primary nearly equal to the fifth, second a little shorter than the 

 third and fourth, which are the longest. Page loi 



41. LoxiA (CrossbUl). BiU thick at the base ; both mandibles equally 



curved, hooked at the tips, and crossing each other at the points. 



Page 103 



4», Emberiza (Buntings, Yenow-hammer). BiU with upper mandible 

 not wider than lower, edges of both inflected and those of latter 

 graduaUy cut away (sinuated) ; the palate generally fmTiished 

 with a hard bony knob ; wings moderate, first primary obsolete, 

 second, third and fourth nearly equaL TaU rather long and slightly 



B.B. e 



