AVIFAUNA OF LAYS AN, ETC. 



195 



THE GENUS LOXIOIDES. 



This genus was first established by Oustalet in 1877, and considered to be a Finch. Sclater, 

 in 1879, pointed out its close affinity to Psittacirostra, while Gadow, in 1891, declared it 

 to be " clearly Fringilline," and " to approach the genera Loxia, Coccothraustes, and 

 Pyrrhula " (sic), but eight years later united it, together with all the rest of thick-billed 

 Hawaiian Passeres, with the Drepanida. 



The nearest relative to Loxioicles is doubtless Telespiza, and not Psittirostra. From 

 Telespiza it differs merely in having a considerably shorter and very strongly curved bill 

 with a less protracted point, the width of lower mandible at base wider than the length of 

 the gonys, the whole bill much shorter than the head. The wings and tail are a little longer 

 than in Telespiza. 



The nostrils are overhung by short feathers, open in the middle, but dorsally protected 

 by a distinct operculum. The third and fourth primaries form the tip of the wing. The tail 

 is emarginate, the central rectrices being shorter than the lateral. 



Only one species is known. 



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