176 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE BLACK-WINGED RED-BIRD. 



Pyranga rubra. 



PLATE LXV. FIG. 149 (Male). 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Tanagra rubra, LinnjEUS. Canada Tanager, Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 369 (male, olive do. female). 



Merula marilandica, Bartram, Travels, p. 290 (bis). Pyrangra rubra, Vieillot. 



Tanagraid. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 42, pi. 11, figs. 3, 4 (male and female). 



T. (Pyranga) rubra. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 105. Audubon, fol. pi. 354. Nuttall, Man. 



Orn. Vol. 1, p. 405. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 273. Peabody, Zool. of 



Mass. p. 319. 

 Pyranga id. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 3, p. 220, pi. 209. 

 P. id., Scarlet Tanager. Giraud, Birds of Longjsland, p. 135. 



Characteristics. Scarlet red. Wings and emarginate tail black. Base of the plumage 

 ash ; then white. Female and young, olive green ; beneath yellow. 

 Wings and tail dusky. Length, 7 inches. 



Description. Bill robust, rather short, compressed towards the end, acute : a faint notch 

 towards the tip. Claws large and arched. Second quill longest. Very small bristles at the 

 base of the upper mandible. 



Color, as in the specific phrase. Axillary feathers, inner lower wing-coverts, and a part 

 of the inner webs of the quills white. Female, olive or yellowish green ; the secondaries and 

 tail tipped with white. The young male, after the moult, often spotted with greenish yellow, 

 and every feather marked with black. 



Length, 6-5-7-0. Alar spread, 10 - 5- 1 1 • 5. 



The Black-winged Red-bird, or Fire-bird and Tanager, as it is often called in this State, 

 reaches us from the tropics about the middle of May, and extends its migrations north to the 

 49th parallel, where, however, it is rare. It is a shy solitary bird, breeding in this State, and 

 laying from three to five bluish eggs speckled with brown. Feeds on insects and their larvae ; 

 preferring, however, beetles, wasps, etc. They also eat berries and grapes. They leave this 

 State in September, migrating by night. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



P. ludoviciana. (Aud. B. of A, Vol. 3, pi. 210.) Greenish yellow. Head all round carmine red; 

 back, wings and tail black ; wings bifasciate with yellow. Female : head dull green ; back, wings 

 and tail brownish tinged with green. Length, 7 inches. Louisiana. 



