CHAR. Wings very long and much pointed; generally one third longer
than the more or less forked tail; first quill usually nearly as long
as or longer than the second. Tertiaries but little longer, or equal
to the secondaries, and always much exceeded by the primaries. Bill
very variable in shape and size, the upper mandible, however, as broad
as the lower; nostrils rather more lateral than usual; and always more
or less concealed by a series of small bristly feathers applied along
the base of the upper mandible; no bristles at the base of the bill.
Feet short and rather weak. Hind claw usually considerably longer than
the middle anterior one; sometimes nearly the same size.
In the preceding diagnosis I have combined a number of forms, all
agreeing in the length and acuteness of the wing, the bristly feathers
along the base of the bill, the absence of conspicuous bristles on the
sides of the mouth, and the shortness of the feet. They are all
strongly marked and brightly colored birds, and usually belong to the
more northern regions.
The bill is very variable, even in the same genus, and its shape is to
a considerable extent of specific rather than of generic importance.
The fringe of short bristles along the base of the bill, concealing
the nostrils, is not appreciable in _Plectrophanes_ (except in _P.
nivalis_), but the other characteristics given above are all present.
Genera.
A. Bill enormously large and stout; the lateral outline as long
as that of the skull. Culmen gently curved.
_Colors green, yellow, 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.
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._
Pyrrhula. Bill excessively swollen; as broad and as high as
long, not half length of head; upper outline much curved.
Tail-coverts covering two thirds the tail, which is nearly
even, middle and hinder claws about equal.
_b. Colors red and gray, or streaked brown and white._
Pinicola. Bill moderately swollen; longer than high or broad,
upper outlines much curved; the tip hooked. Tail-coverts
reaching over basal half of tail, which is nearly even. Middle
claw longer than hind; outer lateral claw extending beyond base
of middle (reaching to it in _Pyrrhula_ and _Carpodacus_). ♀
and _juv._ not streaked.
Carpodacus. Bill variable, always more or less curved and
swollen; longer than high or broad; the tip not hooked.
Tail-coverts reaching over two thirds the tail, which is
decidedly forked. Middle and hind claw about equal. ♀ and
_juv._ streaked.
_c. Colors black and yellow._
Chrysomitris. Bill nearly straight. Hind claw stouter and
more curved, but scarcely longer than the middle anterior one.
Outer lateral toe reaching a little beyond the base of the
middle claw; shorter than the hind toe. Wings longer and more
pointed. Tail quite deeply forked.
C. Hind claw considerably longer than the middle anterior one,
with about the same curvature; claws attenuated towards the
point, and acute. Lateral toes about equal. Wings usually almost
one half longer than the tail, which is deeply forked. Tarsus
shorter than middle toe.
_a. Points of mandibles overlapping._
Curvirostra. Tarsus shorter than middle toe. Bill much
compressed, elongate falcate, with the points crossing like the
blades of scissors. Claws very large; lateral extending beyond
the base of the middle. Colors red or gray. Streaked in _juv._
_b. Points of mandibles not overlapping._
Ægiothus. Tarsus equal to the middle toe. Bill very acutely
conical; outlines and commissure perfectly straight. Lateral
toes reaching beyond the base of the middle one. No ridge on
the side of the lower mandible. Streaked; a crimson pileum
(except in one species).
Leucosticte. Culmen slightly decurved; commissure a little
concave. Bill obtusely conical; not sharp-pointed. A
conspicuous ridge on the side of the lower mandible. Claws
large; the lateral not reaching beyond the base of the middle
one. Colors red and brown.
D. Hind claw much the largest; decidedly less curved than the
middle anterior one. Tarsus longer than the middle toe. Lateral
toes equal; reaching about to the base of the middle claw. Hind
toe as long or longer than the middle one. Bill very variable;
always more or less curved and blunted. Palate somewhat
tuberculate; margins of lower jaw much inflexed. Tail slightly
emarginate or even. Wings one half longer than the tail. First
quill as long as the second.
Plectrophanes. Colors black and white. With or without rufous
nape or elbows. Much white on tail.