CORYTHUS. 
335 
the female, the general markings are the same, 
but not so distinct. The upper parts are more 
of a brownish tint, and so also is the under surface 
of the body tinted with the red of the male. 
The Bullfinch is subject to considerable variety. 
Individuals pied black and white occur, white 
occupying the red and gray portions. Some are 
of a yellowish white, or cream-colour, and occa- 
sionally they occur nearly pure white, while black 
varieties obtain at times, an effect which, it is 
said, may be artificially produced by confining 
the food to hempseed. A very beautiful species, 
much allied in form, is found on the Himalayan 
range. 
Our next bird is very closely allied to the 
True Bullfinches, but diverges from their form in 
that of the bill, and in the colours of the plumage, 
in the last respect much more closely approaching 
to the tints and changes undergone by the Cross- 
bills. The tarsus is also proportionally shorter. 
These differences have induced many of our 
ornithologists to adopt Cuvier's genus Corythus, 
in preference to continuing them with Pyrrhula. 
Corythus may be thus characterized : 
Corythus, Cuvier . — Generic characters . — 
Bill somewhat swollen, with the culmen 
rounded, mandible “ projecting and curving 
over the tip of the lower tarsus shorter than 
