Genus— ZON^GINTHUS. 
ZON^GINTHUS Cabanis, Mus. Heine., Vol. I., p. 171, 
(after Oct. 23rd) 1851. Type (by subsequent 
designation) Gray, 1855, p. 76 .. .. Z. nitidus 
=Loxia bella Latham. 
Coloration different from the preceding, bill more pointed and a little more 
attenuate, but still short and conical. The wings are similarly formed, but 
the tail is a little longer and rounded, the feet similarly formed. 
These genera of Finches are chiefly based on different coloration, and 
tliis was accepted by Sharpe in the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum, 
where he gave differential structural features to avoid the use of coloration, 
and thus wrote for this and the preceding genus : 
“ Inner secondaries not elongated, aU of this series of quills being 
about equal in length; biU pointed, both culmen and gonys being nearly 
straight. 
“ Tail short: the wings falling short of the end of 
the tail by less than the length of the tarsus.. Steganopleura. 
“ Tail longer: the wings faUing short of the end 
of the tail by much more than the length of 
the tarsus .. .. .. .. .. .. Zonceginthi^s” 
As a matter of fact the differences in structure are slight, so that the tail 
is about tliree-fifths the length of the wings in the flrst named and about 
four-fifths the length in the second. Nevertheless, judging from colour values, 
as will be shown hereafter in connection with Pcephila and Erythura, the 
present form is correctly regarded as a distinct genus. 
Key to the Species. 
No red behind the eye, imder-smlace “ hooped ” .. .. hellus. 
Red behind the eye, imder-surface spotted .. .. .. oculatus. 
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