AVIFAUNA OE LAYSAN, ETC. 



L99 



THE GENUS TELESPIZA. 



This genus has been established by Mr. Scott Wilson (Ibis, 1890, p. 341) for the thick-billed 

 finch-like bird from Laysan. Two years later I described a second species from Laysan, and 

 figured both in the first part of this work ; but a large and fine series sent to me by Professor 

 Schauinsland, who recently made large collections on Laysan, shows beyond doubt, and 

 Schauinsland's observations confirm, that my " Telespiza flavissima " is not a distinct species, 

 but only the perfectly adult male of T. cantans. 



I was at one time inclined to unite my genus llhodacanthis w r ith Telespiza, and I do not 

 consider the differences between the two genera of great importance ; but if I do so I cannot 

 consistently keep Loxioides apart, and I therefore keep the sections Loxioides, Telespiza, and 

 llhodacanthis generically separate. They form a continuous series, Telespiza being in the 

 middle, llhodacanthis with the longest bill on one side, Loxioides with the shortest beak on 

 the other. Telespiza, which lives more on the ground, has shorter wings and tail than the 

 other two genera. The nostril is protected by overhanging bristly feathers, and has only a 

 small operculum on the dorsal margin, its median portion being open. 



