320 Birds of Colorado 
of the next. Tail of twelve feathers. Tarsus scutellated 
in front, the sides covered with two long undivided plates 
forming a sharp ridge behind. One complete moult 
in the year in the fall after the breeding season, but 
frequently a partial change of colour in spring, due 
to the wearing away and falling off of the wom 
feather-tips. 
This family comprises the birds generally known as 
Finches, Sparrows, Buntings and Grosbeaks, and is 
spread all over the world, except in the Australasian 
region. It is the largest of all North American bird 
families, comprising about one seventh of the bird 
population. 
Ky oF THE GENERA. 
A. Tail distinctly shorter than the wing. 
a. Tail less than -7 of the wing. 
a* Bill very large, culmen about equal to tarsus; rami of 
mandible very short, only about 4 of gonys. 
Hesperiphona, p. 325. 
b? Bill with the tips of the mandibles crossed. Loxia, p. 333. 
ce? Bill small or moderate and normal. 
aS’ Wings long and pointed; difference between the 
primaries and secondaries distinctly exceeding the 
tarsus. 
a4 Nostrils concealed by forwardly growing bristles. 
a> Tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw. 
a® Bill shorter and less acute; plumage largely 
yellow, not streaky. Astragalinus, p. 342. 
b® Bill longer and more acute; plumage streaky 
above and below. Spinus, p. 346. 
b5 Tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. 
a® Upper and lower mandibles about equally deep ; 
plumage with a good deal of pink. 
Leucosticte, p. 335. 
b® Lower mandible distinctly deeper than the upper ; 
no red in the plumage. _Plectrophenax, p. 349. 
b! Nostrils exposed. 
a’ Plumage without pink; claw of hind toe more or 
less elongated and straight. Rhynchophanes, p.353. 
