AVES. 359 
and convex; wings moderate, somewhat rounded; tail moderate ; tarsi 
and feet rather short and robust. Size small. 
Rather less than one hundred birds are arranged here, nearly all of 
which inhabit northern and temperate regions. 
The European bullfinch, Pyrrhula europea (pl. 101, fig. 2), is one of the 
prettiest little birds of that continent. He is much esteemed as a cage 
bird, and large numbers are exported from Germany to all pa:ts of the 
world. 
The purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus), a common and very hand- 
some American bird, belongs here. The male is of a uniform purple color, 
though seldom observed, on account of almost exclusively frequenting the 
forest. 
There are several western species, of which the crimson-fronted bullfinch 
(C. frontalis) appears to be most common. 
Some ten or twelve little birds of this sub-family, forming the genus 
Crithagra, are peculiar to the continent of Africa. There are a large 
number of South American species (genus Spermophila), of which the 
thick-billed finch, S. crassirostris (pl. 101, fig. 3), is a good example. 
Sub-fam. 8. Loxiane, or Crossbills. Bill rather long, both mandibles 
compressed towards the tips, which are curved and cross each other ; 
wings lengthened, pointed; tail moderate, emarginated; tarsi and feet 
short and strong. Size small; color generally purple. , 
These birds inhabit the forests of pine, fir, or other trees of similar cha- 
racter, in the northern regions of America, Europe, and Asia. The seeds 
of those trees are readily extracted by their curiously formed bills, and 
appear to be their principal food. 
The parrot crossbill (Loxia pityopsittacus), the common crossbill (L. curvi- 
rostra (pl. 100, fig. 2), and the white-winged crossbill (L. leucoptera), are 
the European species. The two latter are common in the northern United 
States. 
Several others have been observed in India and other countries of Asia. 
Sub-fam. 9. Phytotomine, or Plantcutters. Bill short, strong, broad at 
base, lateral edges finely serrated ; wings moderate ; tail rather short, trun- 
cate ; tarsi strong; toes long and slender. 
Three birds of South America constitute this sub-family. They are 
found in the forests, and occasionally visit gardens and plantations, in which 
they are said to commit much injury, by a peculiar manner of cutting off 
buds and fruits. Their notes are represented as very unpleasant, and 
somewhat similar tosthe sounds produced by sharpening a saw. The com- 
mon plantcutter (Phytotoma silens), the narrow-billed (P. angustirostris), 
and the rusty planteutter (P. rutila), are the known species. 
Sub-fam. 10. Coline, or Colies. Bill small, elevated at base; wings 
short ; tail very long, graduated ; tarsi short and robust; toes lengthened 
and all directed forwards. Head crested. 
This group comprises eight or ten birds, which are natives of Africa. 
They have a peculiar formation of their feet, by which all the toes (inelud- 
ing the hind toe of other birds) are directed forwards, though its use has 
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