FKirre-ULLA BllTRTOIsri: GmdA.
FRINGILLA BURTONI, Gould.
Burton’s Grosbeak.
Carduelis Burtoni, Gould in Proc, o f Zool. Soc., P a rt V. p. 90.
Fringilla Burtoni, Gray and Mitch. Gen. of B irds, vol. ii. p. 371, Fringilla, sp. 9.
I f i r s t became acquainted with this fine species in the year 1837, while inspecting the collection a t Fort
Pitt, Chatham, which at that time contained the only known specimen : since that period a second example
has come under my notice, in the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society; a third in the Museum
of the University of Edinburgh; and I have lately been so fortunate as to obtain for my own collection two
males and a female; and these six specimens are, I believe, all that are a t present in Europe.
I t will be perceived that I originally placed this bird in the genus Carduelis, with the remark, that “ it
departs in some respects from the other members o f that genus, particularly in the robust form of the
beak, which is slightly angulated a t the b a s e :” upon reconsideration of the subject, I am now of opinion
th at its proper situation is in the genus Fringilla, in which I have accordingly placed it.
The Fort Pitt specimen was said to be from the Himalayas, that a t York from Simla; and Sir William
Jardine informs me, that on a drawingof this species lately sent to him by Mr. Blyth, is inscribed, “ From
Huttoo Mountains, near Simla,” which neighbourhood may therefore be considered its native habitat.
I was induced to give this fine bird the specific appellation o f Burtoni, in order to pay a ju st compliment
to Staff Surgeon B urton for the warm interest he took in the formation of the Fort P itt collection, and for
the readiness he has at all times evinced to aid in any way the advancement o f zoological science.
The male has the forehead, lores, and a curved line over the eye bright vermilion; crown o f the head
and cheeks black ; plumage o f the body, both above and below, reddish brown ; all the feathers of the
breast and abdomen margined with r e d ; wings black; spurious wing, greater coverts,secondaries an d ter-
tiaries more or less tipped with white ; tail black and white, the white being of a V-shaped form and decreasing
in extent until on the centre feathers it is nearly obsolete; bill yellowish brown ; feet fleshy brown.
In another specimen, which appears to be a fresh moulted bird, the colours are altogether finer, brighter,
and more decided ; the vermilion advances upon the forehead and encircles the eye ; the white marks on
the wing are much larger, have a tinge o f vermilion on their anterior margins, and show very conspicuously.
The female has the forehead and circle round the eye o range; crown of the head blackish brown ; upper
surface brown; under surface brown, slightly washed with orange; under tail-coverts buff; wings and:tail
as in the male, but the colours less decided.
The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size.