144 
TOWNSEND’S FINCH. 
than the lower, almost straight in its dorsal outline, as is the lower, both 
being rounded on the sides, the lower with inflected sharp edges, the upper 
with a slight prominence on the edges anterior to the nostrils; the gap-line 
nearly straight, a little deflected at the base. Nostrils basal, roundish, open, 
partially concealed by the feathers. 
Head rather large, broadly ovate ; neck shortish ; body full. Legs of 
moderate length, rather strong, tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, 
covered anteriorly with seven long scutella; toes scutellate above, free, the 
lateral nearly equal, the hind toe stout, and with its claw nearly as long as 
the third. Claws very long, slightly arched, slender, compressed, laterally 
grooved, acute, that of the hind toe largest. 
Plumage soft and blended, the feathers ovato-oblong. Wings very short, 
convex, rounded ; the second, third, and fourth quills longest, and nearly 
equal, the first a quarter of an inch shorter than the second, and equal to 
the sixth ; secondaries abruptly rounded. Tail longish, nearly even. 
Bill dark brown above, the base of the lower mandible yellow, its tip 
bluish; iris brown; feet flesh-coloured. The general colour of the upper 
parts is a very deep olivaceous brown, in which there is apparent a slight 
tinge of red, which becomes more conspicuous on the rump and outer webs 
of the tail-feathers, and margins the wing-coverts and quills ; there are no 
bands on the wings. The ground colour of the lower parts is the same as 
of the upper, but the shafts of the cheek-feathers are whitish ; there is a 
dongitudinal band of white spots from the angle of the lower mandible ; 
the throat, fore neck, middle of the breast, and hind part of the flanks are 
variegated with white, the greater part of each feather being of that colour, 
and the tip only dusky brown ; the lower tail-coverts are reddish-brown 
in the centre, with broad yellowish-white edges, the tibial feathers dull 
reddish-brown, the lower surface of the wing greyish-brown. 
Length to end of tail 7 inches; extent of wings 10i; bill along the ridge 
t S 2 , along the edge of lower mandible T V, wing from flexure 2H; tail 2}|q 
tarsus L°i; hind toe T L, its claw middle toe 7i, its claw 
The wing of this bird is much shorter than that of Fringilla iliaca, which 
measures 3 T 6 2 inches; its tarsi are longer, but more slender, and its claws are 
so much longer and more slender, as to suggest at first the idea of its being 
a Plcctrophanes, from which, however, it differs in the form of the wings. 
