PYRANGA. 287 
The genus Pyranga is usually made to include several rather diverse forms, but these 
are perhaps scarcely separable. P. erythromelena and P. erythrocephala are most 
aberrant, and we are not sure that they have not a closer relationship to one another 
than is here admitted, the form of the bill being very similar in both birds. 
The notch or dentate process on the middle of the cutting-edge of the mandible is a 
variable feature in this genus, and, though of value in a specific sense, hardly serves to 
group the different species. 
The bill in Pyranga is stout, subconical, the culmen more or less depressed, and the 
cutting-edge of the mandible rather strongly curved in P. erythromelena and its allies, 
less so in P. rubra; there is nearly always a projection like a tooth in the middle. In 
P. estiva the edge is simple, but a slight wave in the curve sometimes shows where it 
is present in other species. In P. bidentata, P. hepatica, and P. testacea it is most 
developed, and in some there is an indication of a second projection on the proximal 
side of the large one. 
The wings of Pyranga are well developed and (especially in the migratory species) 
rather long, the second primary being usually the longest, but the first, second, and 
third are nearly equal. InP. roseiqularis the primaries are short and the wing rounded, 
the second, third, and fourth quills being nearly equal. The tail is of moderate length, 
nearly square at the end or but slightly forked. ‘The tarsi and toes are of moderate 
size and suitable for birds of arboreal habits, which all the species of Pyranga have. 
A. Ale haud fasciate. 
a. Ale ngre. 
1. Pyranga rubra. a 
Tanagra rubra, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 3143. 
Pyranga rubra, Gosse, B. Jam. p. 235°; Scl. P.Z.S. 1856, p. 123°; 1858, p. 73°; Jones, Nat. 
Berm. p. 381°; Scl. & Salv. P.Z.S. 1864, p. 350°; 1879, pp. 501", 601°; Dresser, Ibis, 
1865, p. 479°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 331°; ix. p.99"; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, 
p- 299"; Sumichrast, Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 550"; Salv. P.Z.S. 1870, p. 187"; 
Ibis, 1872, p. 316; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B.i. p. 485°; Tacz. P. Z. 8. 1874, 
p. 514"; Gundl. Orn. Cub. p. 73”. 
Coccinea, alis caudaque nigris, subalaribus albis; rostro pallide corneo (ave vivo viridi!) ad basin obscuriore ; 
pedibus obscure corylinis (ave vivo obscure ceruleis). Long. tota 6°3, ale 3-8, caude 2-7, rostri a rictu 
0-8, tarsi 0°8. (Descr. maris ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 
@ olivacea, subtus flavicans, alis et cauda fuscis. (Descr. femine ex Washington Smiths. Inst., no. 28342. 
Mus. nostr.) 
Hab. Norra America, eastern Province 16, Texas ®, Bermuda ®.—Mexico (Bullock), 
State of Vera Cruz (Swmichrast 1°); Guatemata, Vera Paz (Mus. nostr.) ; Nica- 
ragua, Chontales (Belt); Costa Rica, San Jose (v. Frantzius | 1"), Irazu (Rogers) ; 
Panama, Calovevora (Arcé 14), Lion Hill (U‘Leannan® !°).—Cotomsia?’ ; Ecuapor? ; 
Perv 27; Bourvia®; ANTILLES, Cuba 18, Jamaica 2. 
