288 
LOXIA CURVIEOSTHA. 
sulistltutin" the specific for the generic appellation) ^ 
have only t'ollovved the steps and dictates of that great 
original, whose arrangements ought never to he disrC' 
garded by any who would faithfully copy her. 
The crosshills are subject to considerable changes 0‘ 
colour; the young males of the present species beinfeb 
during the first season, olive yellow, mixed with ash! 
then bright greenish yellow intermixed >vith spots of 
dusky olive, all of which yellow plumage becomes, in tho 
second year, of a light red, having the edges of the tail 
inclining to yellow. When coiilincd in a cage, they 
usually lose the red colour at the first moulting, that 
tint changing to a brownish yellow, which remain® 
permanent. The same circumstance happens to th® 
purple finch and ]iine grosbeak, both of which, when i® 
confinement, exchange their brilliant crimson for * 
motley garb of light brownish yellow ; as I have h»“ 
frequent opportunities of observing. 
The male of this species, when in perfect plumagft 
is five inches and three quarters long, and nine inche® 
in extent ; the hill is a brown horn colour, sharp, an® 
single-edged toward-s the extremity, where the ma"' 
dihles cross each othei-; the general colour of tb® 
plumage is a red-lead colour, brightest on the riiinpi 
generally intermixed on the other parts with touche® 
of olive ; wings ami tail, brown black, the latter forked) 
and edged with yellow; legs and feet, brown; cla'VS) 
large, much curved, and very sharp; vent, white> 
streaked with dark ash; base of the bill, covered niff* 
recumbent down, of a pale brown colour; eye, hazel. 
The female is rather less than the male ; the hill 0* 
a paler horn colour; rnni)), tail-coverts, and edges n* 
the tail, golden yellow; wings and tail, dull hrownis® 
black ; the rest of the plumage, oli ve yellow mix'®® 
with ash ; legs and feet, as in the male. Tlie youn? 
males, during the first season, as is usual with m<>®* 
other birds, very much resenihlo the female. In monik 
ing, the males exchange their red for bi'ownish ycllo"’ 
which gradually brightens into red. Hence, at differc®^ 
seasons, they difl'er greatly in colour. 
