Order II. PASSERES. 
Tribe IV. Conirostres. 
Family VL Fringillid^. 
The ninth Subfamily, 
PHYTOTOMINiE, or Plant-cutters, 
have the Bill short, conical, with the lateral margins serrated. 
Phytotoma il/o/.* 
Bill short, strong, broad at the base, and the sides gradually compressed towards the tip, with the 
culmen elevated and rather arched, and the lateral margins straight and finely serrated ; the nostrils 
basal, small, and ovoid. Wings moderate, with the first two quills graduated, and the third, fourth, 
and fifth equal and longest. Tail moderate and even. Tarsi strong, shorter than the middle toe, and 
covered with transverse scales. Toes long and slender, with the lateral ones unequal ; the hind toe long ; 
and all armed with long curved claws. 
The birds of this genus are peculiar to the temperate regions of South America, where they are found in the woody 
parts of the dry and arid hills and plains, but frequently visiting the environs of inliablted and cultivated places. 
They live In pairs and in small troops, searching gardens and orcliards, and devastating plantations by cutting off buds 
and fruits. Theii- flight is short and low, but is sometimes prolonged ; and their habits resemble those of the Tanagers 
of the genus Saltatoj; with which they are frequently seen mingled. Their note is excessively disagreeable, 
approaching the noise made by the teeth of a saw rubbed together. They feed on grains, buds, and insects. 
1. Ph. rara Mol. Hist. Nat. du Chile, p. 235. — Phytotoma 2. Ph. angustirostris D'Orb. & Lafr. Syn, Av. p. 37., Voy. dans 
silens KittL\bg(\ von Chili, tab. 1.; Ph. Bloxanii Children, I'Amer. Me'rid. Ois. t. 29. f. 2. 
Griff. An. Kiugd. ii. p. 319. pL, Jard. & Selby's 111. Ornith. pi. 3. Ph. rutila Vieill. N. Diet. Hist. Nat. xxvi. 26., Azara No. 91., 
4. ; Ph. Molina Less. Mag. de Zool. 1844. Ois. t. 5. D'Orb. Voy. dans TAme'r. Merid. Ois. t. 29. f. 1. 
* Established by Molina {Essai sur I' Hist. Nat. du Chili) in 1789. 
February, 184,';. 
