200 AVES. 



Till? ronimou or Sonp; Linnet (Fr. cannahhia, Lin.), is remarkable for the crown and breast plumage of the male, 

 which, in wJTiter, is dingy reddish-brown, concealed by terminal edgitig^s, that disappear in spring, at which season 

 tlie colour changes to bright crimson : the same enhancement of tint obtains, though to a less extent, in the preceding 

 species, the coronal and breast feathers of which are pink in winter, brightening considerably towards the breeding 

 seasitn. It is remarkable that none of these birds ever acquire their gay tints in captivity, although they breed 

 freely when encaged. The same applies to several allied groups, as the Crossbills and Erythrospiza, or purple 

 Finches of the North, which latter are intermediate to the Linnets and Cori/l/t/. 



There is a fourth British species, of inferior size to the last, with a smaller bill of a wax-yellow colour, and no 

 pink except on the rump -, the Tirifr, or Mountain Linnet {F. montiiim, Gm.}, which abounds in tlie most nurthern 

 districts of tlie isla-id, and upiin uiibnJ heaths, migrating suuthwaid in winttr. 



Various species more or le:ss yellow are known as Serins or Canary-birds [tlie latter having the bill 

 comparatively bulging. 



"We can only notice] the Canary, so abundantly bred in captivity {F. canaria, Lin.), the domesticated varieties 

 of which are so numerous that it is dilficalt to assign the original colour. It hybridizes with various other Finches, 

 producing mules that are more or less capable of propagation. [The original stock is still wild in the islands from 

 which this species takes its name : individuals occasiunaliy learn to pronounce words with remarkable precision 

 and urticulaliun- 



The "Whidaiis {Vidua, Cuv.) — 



Are African and Indian birds, with the beak of a Linnet, sometimes a little bulged at its base, [the 

 males of] which are distinguished by the extraordinary elongated covert feathers above the tail, [at 



least during the breeding season]. 

 They grade without assignable interval into the Linnets. 



The Grosbeaks {Coccof/irausies, Cuv.) — ■ 

 Possess an exactly conical beak, which is distinguished only by its extreme thickness. 



The Haw Grosbeak {Loxia coccothrausies, Lin.), is one of those particularly worthy of the name, [though its beak 

 is slight in comparison with that of some others].— Crown and back chestnut-brown, neck and rump ash-coloured, 

 [beak dark bluish in summer, tlesh-coloured in winter ; the secondary feathers of the wing abruptly truncated. 

 Its sternal apparatus is figured at p. ITS, as characteristic of the whole enormous group of Passerints]. This bird 

 inhabits wooded districts, nestles upon beech or fruit-trees, and feeds on all sorts of kernels. [Is not rare in some 

 liurts of South Britain, but in general extremely wild and shy of approach.] 



The Green Grosbeak, Green Linnet, or Green-finch, (Lox. chloris, Lin.)— [(.)ne of the cornimonest of British 

 birds : its bill turns pale Hesh-colour in summer, as in the Goldlineh. 



Among the very numerous groups of foreign Finches and Grosbeaks, a strongly marked subdivision is 

 that of 



The Amadu\'ats {Auiadina, Swainson), 



The beak of which is short and slightly bulging. 



Such is the Java filparrou; so abundantly brought alive from the Indian Archipelago, and numerous diminutive 

 species of pleasing colours, several of which inhabit Australia. 



The Waxbills (Es/ri/da, Swainson) — ■ 

 y\re nearly allied, and also approximate the Rcedlings : they have a smaller and somewhat arched 

 bill, and long graduated tail. 



Of several species, one is ven' commonly brought alive to this countiy, with delicate grey plumage transversely 

 rayed, and a crimson streak through the eye ; beneath the tail black, as in the Bearded Reedliug. 

 They inhabit the same countries as the Amadu\ats]. 



The Pitylus, Cuv. 



The beak as thick as iu the Grosbeaks, a little compressed, ai-ehed above, and sometimes a salient 

 angle at the middle of the upper jaw. 



[Among the various groups to which the above definition is more or less applicable, wc may paiii- 

 eiil'irly notice one lately discovered at the Gallipago Isles, 



The Geospiza, Gould, — ■ 

 Wherein tiie beak varies singularly in shape and stoutness, notwithstanding wliieh tlicre is an exceed- 

 ingly strong resemblance in every other character, \\bich forbids their separation. They are cliielly 

 ground-birds, with sombre \tlumage and short tails. 



