144 TOWNSEND'S FINCH. 



than the lower, almost straight in its dorsal outline, as is the lower, both 

 being rounded on the sides, the lower with inflected sharp edges, the upper 

 with a slight prominence on the edges anterior to the nostrils; the gap-line 

 nearly straight, a little deflected at the base. Nostrils basal, roundish, open, 

 partially concealed by the feathers. 



Head rather large, broadly ovate; neck shortish; body full. Legs of 

 moderate length, rather strong, tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, 

 covered anteriorly with seven long scutella; toes scutellate above, free, the 

 lateral nearly equal, the hind toe stout, and with its claw nearly as long as 

 the third. Claws very long, slightly arched, slender, compressed, laterally 

 grooved, acute, that of the hind toe largest. 



Plumage soft and blended, the feathers ovato-oblong. Wings very short, 

 convex, rounded; the second, third, and fourth quills longest, and nearly 

 equal, the first a quarter of an inch shorter than the second, and equal to the 

 sixth; secondaries abruptly rounded. Tail longish, nearly even. 



Bill dark brown above, the base of the lower mandible yellow, its tip 

 bluish; iris brown; feet flesh-coloured. The general colour of the upper 

 parts is a very deep olivaceous brown, in which there is apparent a slight 

 tinge of red, which becomes more conspicuous on the rump and outer webs 

 of the tail-feathers, and margins the wing-coverts and quills; there are no 

 bands on the wings. The ground-colour of the lower parts is the same as 

 of the upper, but the shafts of the cheek-feathers are whitish; there is a 

 longitudinal band of white spots from the angle of the lower mandible; the 

 throat, fore neck, middle of the breast, and hind part of the flanks are varie- 

 gated with white, the greater part of each feather being of that colour, and 

 the tip only dusky brown; the lower tail-coverts are reddish-brown in the 

 centre, with broad yellowish-white edges, the tibial feathers dull reddish- 

 brown, the lower surface of the wing greyish-brown. 



Length to end of tail 7 inches; extent of wings 10|; bill along the ridge 

 T 5 j, along the edge of lower mandible T 7 o; wing from flexure 2\\; tail 2||; 

 tarsus -j q |; hind toe ^, its claw -^ 5 ; middle toe yf , its claw -yf-. 



The wing of this bird is much shorter than that of Fringilla iliaca, which 

 measures SyV inches; its tarsi are longer, but more slender, and its claws are 

 so much longer and more slender, as to suggest at first the idea of its being 

 a Plectrophanes, from which however it differs in the form of the wings. 



