FBING-ILLIDiE — THE FINCHES. 
43 
■ -d 0 | g $ i 
^ 3 "^Family FRINGILLIDiE.— T he Finches. 
Char. Primaries nine. Bill very short, abruptly conical, and robust. Commissure 
strongly angulated at base of bill. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly, but the sides with two un- 
divided plates meeting behind\long the median line, as a sharp posterior ridge. Eyes 
hazel or brown, except in PipmKfit here they are reddish or yellowish. Said also to be 
sometimes reddish in Junco. Nest and eggs very variable as to character and situation. 
Coccothraustinae. Bill variable, from enormously large to quite small; the base of ’the 
upper mandible almost always provided with a close-pressed fringe of bristly feathers 
(more or less conspicuous) concealing the nostrils. Wings very long and pointed, usually 
one half to one third longer than the forked or emarginate tail. Tarsi short. (Page 43.) 
Pyrgitinae. Bill robust, swollen, ar^pl above without distinct ridge. Lower mandi- 
ble at base narrower than upper. Nostrils covered ; side of maxilla with stiff appressed 
bristles. Tarsi short, not longer than middle toe. Tail shorter than the somewhat 
pointed wings. Back streaked ; under parts not streaked. (Page 50.) 
Spizellinae. Embracing all the plain-colored sparrow-like species marked with longi- 
tudinal stripes. Bill conical, always rather small; both mandibles about equal. Tarsi 
lengthened. Wings and tail variable. Lateral claws never reaching beyond the base of 
the middle claw. (Page 51.) 
Passerellinae. Sparrow-like species, with triangular spots beneath. Legs, toes, and 
claws very stout ; the lateral claws reaching nearly to the end of the middle ones. (Page 
m) 
Spizinae. Brightly colored species, usually without streaks. Bill usually very large 
and much curved ; lower mandible wider than the upper. Wings moderately long. Tail 
variable. (Pag3*£0.) 
Subfamily COCCOTHR AUSTINS. — The teue Finches. 
Genera. 
A. Bill enormously large and stout ; the lateral outline as long as that of the 
skull. Culmen gently curved. 
Colors green , yelloiu , and black. 
Hesperiphona. First quill equal to the second. Wings one half longer 
than the tail. Lateral claws equal, reaching to the base of the middle claw. 
Claws much curved, obtuse ; hinder one but little longer than the middle. 
(Page 44.) 
B. Bill smaller, with the culmen more or less curved ; the lateral outline not so 
long as the skull. Wings about one third longer than the tail, or a little more ; 
first quill shorter than the second. Claws considerably curved and thickened ; 
hinder most so, and almost inappreciably longer or even shorter than the middle 
anterior one. Tarsus shorter than the middle toes. Lateral toes unequal. 
a. Colors red , gray , and black , never streaked. 
Fyrrhula. Bill excessively swollen; as broad and as high as long, not 
half the length of head ; upper outline much curved. Tail-coverts covering 
two thirds of the tail, which is nearly even, middle and hinder claws about 
equal. (Page 45.) 
b. Colors red and gray , or streaked brown and white. 
Pinicola. Bill moderately swollen ; longer than high or broad, upper out- 
lines much curved ; the tip hooked. Tail-coverts reaching over basal half of 
