_Loxia, Linnæus_, Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 758. (Type, _Loxia curvirostra_,
L.)
_Curvirostra_, “SCOPOLI, 1777.” (Type, _L. curvirostra_.)
[Line drawing: _Loxia americana._
5803 ♂]
GEN. CHAR. Mandibles much elongated, compressed and attenuated;
greatly curved or falcate, the points crossing or overlapping to a
greater or less degree. Tarsi very short; claws all very long, the
lateral extending beyond the middle of the central; hind claw longer
than its digit. Wings very long and pointed, reaching beyond the
middle of the narrow, forked tail.
Colors reddish in the male.
The elongated, compressed, falcate-curved, and overlapping mandibles
readily characterize this genus among birds. This feature, however,
only belongs to grown specimens, the young having a straight bill, as
in other Finches.
The United States species of _Loxia_ are readily distinguished by the
presence of white bands on the wing in _leucoptera_ and their absence
in _americana_. Neither form, however, is to be considered as
specifically distinct from their European allies. The differences are
as follows:—
Species and Varieties.