WHITE- WINGED CROSSBILL. 
193 
Plumage blended. Wings of ordinary length, pointed, the outer three 
primaries longest (in one specimen the first longest, in three the second) ; 
secondaries slightly emarginate. Tail of moderate length, deeply emargi- 
nate, the feathers curved outwards at the point. 
Bill dusky, tinged with greyish-blue, especially on the edges. Iris hazel. 
Feet dark reddish-brown. The general colour of the plumage is rich 
carmine, inclining to crimson ; the feathers on the fore part and middle of 
the back dusky, excepting the tips $ the scapulars, wings, upper tail-coverts, 
and tail black ; two broad bands of white on tbe wing, the anterior formed 
by the first row of small coverts and several of those adjoining, the other 
by the secondary coverts, of which the basal half only is black ; the inner 
secondaries are tipped with white, as are the tail-coverts, and the quills and 
tail-feathers are very slightly margined with whitish. Bristly feathers at 
the base of the bill yellowish-white ; sides brownish, and streaked with 
dusky, axillar feathers whitish ; lower tail-coverts brownish-black, broadly 
margined with reddish-white. 
Length to end of tail inches, to end of wings 5i, to end of claws 5 ; 
extent of wings 10-f ; bill along the ridge fj, along the edge of lower man- 
dible r \ ; wing from flexure 3 T ^ ; tail 2 T \ ; tarsus j-4- : hind toe f|, its claw 
t 5 2 ; middle toe —, its claw -fj. 
Female. 
The female has the upper parts dusky, the feathers margined with grey- 
ish-yellow, the rump wax-yellow ; the lower parts are yellowish-grey, streak- 
ed with dusky, the fore part of the breast wax-yellow ; the wings and tail 
are as in the male, but paler, and with the white bands on the former of 
less breadth. Bill and feet darker than those of the male. 
Length to end of tail 6J inches, to end of wings 5, to end of claws 5i ; 
extent of wings 10. 
Young. 
The young resemble the female, but the lower parts are dull yellowish- 
grey, spotted and streaked with dark brown. 
After the first moult the male still resembles the female, but is more 
yellow. At the next moult it acquires the red colour, which becomes 
richer and purer the older the bird. 
In this species there are three longitudinal ridges on the roof of the 
mouth, and the palate is bent in the same manner as in Buntings. The 
tongue is of the same general form as that of the Pine Grosbeak, 3i twelfths 
long, compressed and slender at the base, with the basihyoid bone of a simi- 
lar form, concave above, dilated and rounded at the end, so as to resemble a 
scoop or spoon. The oesophagus, b c d e. is 2 inches and 8 twelfths long, when 
