303 
FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
shrill clatter of the scissor-tail flycatchers, the rattle of woodpeckers, 
the vociferations of mockingbirds, the cooing of doves, the piping 
notes of the vermilion flycatcher, and the voices of passing birds, it 
was quite like camping in an aviary. Though usually visited by 
only an occasional Mexican, the birds went about their business as 
if camp-fires were an everyday occurrence, and paid little heed to 
us except when we shot a rattlesnake or made other undue signs of 
our presence. 
Much to our surprise the blackbirds sang in notes that were sweet 
and astonishingly like the call-notes of the goldfinch. But they 
appeared particularly fond of making a noise that sounded like the 
breaking of sticks, and it took a prominent part in a ludicrous per¬ 
formance which they went through. Seated on an oak top, where 
his humble spouse could see him to the best advantage, an old male 
would begin by spreading his wings and tail to their fullest 
breadth and making a crackling ‘ breaking brush ’ sound which he 
evidently considered a striking prelude. This done' he would 
quiver his wings frantically and opening wide his bill emit a high 
falsetto squeal, quee-ee, quee-ee , quee-ee, quee-ee, perhaps attuned to 
the feminine blackbird ear. But his coup d’etat, which should have 
wrung admiration from the most unappreciative mate, consisted in 
striking an attitude, his long bill pointed as nearly straight to the 
sky as his neck would permit. Posed in this way he would sit like 
a statue, with a most ludicrous air of greatness. Incredible as it 
may appear, instead of standing spellbound before him, his spouse, 
practical housewife that she was, whatever her secret admiration 
may have been, through all his lordship’s play calmly went about 
gathering sticks. 
FAMILY FRIN GILLID JE: FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
KEY TO GENEKA. 
1. Wing conspicuously long and pointed, prima¬ 
ries exceeding secondaries by nearly or 
more than twice the length of tarsus. 
2. Tips of bill crossed in adults. Loxia, p. 313. 
Fig. 369. 2'. Tips of bill not crossed. 
3. Depth of bill at base greater than length of hind toe with 
claw. Coccothraustes, p. 307. 
Fig. 370. 3'. Depth of bill at base much less than length of hind toe 
with claw. 
4. Hind claw longer than its toe. 
Fig. 368. 
