950 Synopsis of Indian Fringillidce. [No. 156. 



in the order in which I have placed them.* We now come to the more 

 typical Finches, which have endless mutual affinities, and are most 

 difficult to arrange in anything like a satisfactory series. 



Coccothraustes, Brisson. Grosbeaks. The three Himalayan species are 

 remarkable for their black and yellow plumage, in which respect, and 

 perhaps others, they approximate the C. vespertinus of North America. 

 Each of them, however, presents peculiarities in the modification of the 

 beak, and each likewise differs in the character of plumage proper to 

 the female sex. 



1. C. melanozanthus, Hodgson, As. Res. XIX, 150: male figured in 

 Mr. G. R. Gray's illustrated work on the genera of birds, but the beak 

 made to appear too much elongated, the colour of the upper parts too 

 black, and the tail too much truncated. As compared with the Eu- 

 ropean C. vulgaris, the beak is not longer, but is much broader, and 

 more bulged (or Pyrrhuline) , and the basal denticulation of the upper 

 mandible is strongly developed. It is probably the largest Finch in 

 existence. 



2. C. carnipes, Hodgson, As. Res. XIX. 151. The beak of this fine 

 species approaches to the Pyrenestes form, being much less bulged 

 than in the preceding, and a good deal compressed towards the tip ; the 

 basal denticulation very decided. 



3. C. icterioides, Vigors, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 8 ; Gould's ' Century', pi. 

 XLV. Beak more elongated than in the others, or rather more drawn 

 out towards the tip ; and approaching most nearly in form to that of 

 C. vulgaris. This species would seem to be allied to the Chinese 

 C. melanura. 



Htematospiza, Nobis, n. g. Bill nearly as in Guiraca, Sw., or Pyr- 



* Mr. Strickland remarks, in epistold, — " An excellent distinction between the 

 Ploceina, and Fringillincs was pointed out by Swainson, viz. the spurious quill in the 

 former, wanting in the latter. On this ground I refer all the Amadina tribe (which 

 possess this quill) to the Ploceince." The character here mentioned would re- 

 tain the Sparrows with the Fringillina, and it seems to hold good throughout 

 the two groups : but the Alaudince vary in this respect, as the spurious quill occurs 

 in Mirafra, in Pyrrhulauda, and also in Cethllanda, while it is absent in all or most of 

 the rest. I cannot, however, quite agree with Mr. Strickland in referring the Amadina 

 series to the Ploceines as a major division, but would retain it as a distinct and cor- 

 responding supergeneric group , and I much incline to the same opinion, as regards 

 the separation of both the Sparrows and the Buntings from the Fringillince. 



