Fringillidae 323 
C. Tail distinctly exceeding the wing. 
a. Head crested ; plumage red. Cardinalis, p. 398. 
b. Head not crested. 
a? Outer (ninth) primary shorter than second; tail black, 
tipped with white or brown. Pipilo, p. 392. 
b? Outer (ninth) primary longer than second ; tail greenish. 
Oreospiza, p. 396. 
As the genera of this family are by no means easy to dis- 
criminate, an alternative key is given ; this is adapted from 
that of Coues, in which colour and plumage characters 
are more freely used. 
A. Bill with tips of mandibles crossed. Loxia, p. 333. 
B. Bill very large, culmen almost equal to tarsus, greenish 
in colour. Hesperiphona, p. 325. 
C. Bull large and reddish; head crested. Cardinalis, p. 398. 
D. Bill with a pair of tufts of bristles at base of upper mandible 
partially or completely concealing nostrils. 
a. Length over 8; plumage grey with red in male, yellow in 
female. Pinicola, p. 327. 
b. Length less than 8. 
a? Plumage black and white, washed with clear brown in 
winter. Plectrophenax, p. 349. 
b? Plumage chocolate or dusky, with rosy edgings and 
washings. Leucosticte, p. 335. 
ce? Plumage chiefly yellow, no red; wings and tail black. 
Astragalinus, p. 342. 
d? Plumage streaky. 
a® Bill turgid ; male chiefly rosy ; female dusky, no yellow. 
Carpodacus, p. 328. 
b? Bill acute ; crown crimson. Acanthis, p. 340. 
c® Bill acute, no red ; yellow about wings and tail. 
Spinus, p. 346. 
E. Bil without tufts; nostrils generally exposed. 
a. Hind claw lengthened and straightened. 
a? Bill moderate ; white on tail oblique. Calcarius, p. 350. 
b? Bill turgid, white on tail transverse. 
Rhynchophanes, p. 353. 
b. Hind and fore claws lengthened, the inner reaching at least 
half-way to the end of middle one. 
a? Plumage sparrow-like, spotted and streaked. 
Passerella, p. 390. 
b? Plumage black, white and chestnut in masses. 
Pipilo (in part), p. 392. 
x 2 
