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PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



13160 



upper surface of body being quite different in tint from the lower. Tlie species, 

 besides the type, which belong to this group, are the P. tesiacea, Sclater, and 

 Salviu, and F. azarm. 



Of all the species the sestiva has the widest range of habitat, this including 

 the "Eastern Province" of the United States, Eastern Mexico, Central Amer- 

 ica, and the northern part of South America. In Western Mexico, and the 

 southern "Middle Province" of the United States, the oestiva is replaced by 

 the closely allied P. cooperi. The P. hepatica belongs to the mountain regions 

 of Mexico, extending along the elevated lands into the southern Rocky 

 Mountains of the United States ; allied to this are the P. tesiacea of Central 

 America, and P. azarne of south-eastern South America. The South Ameri- 

 can representative of the P. xsiiva, is the P. saira, of Brazil. 



Pyranga jsstiva, Yieillot. 



Tanagra cestiva, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 889. — Pyranga sestiva, Baird, B. 

 N. A. 1858, 301.— Aud., Birds Amer. II, pi. 209. 



Sp. CT.— Length 7-25, extent 12-00, 

 wing 3-81, tail 296, culmen -70, tar- 

 sus -68. Bill dilute, horn color, dark- 

 er towards culmen, paler along com- 

 missure. Prevailing tint pure vermi- 

 lion, the whole upper surface more 

 dusky purplish red, uniform from bill 

 to tail, perhai)S a little more reddish on ujjper tail- coverts and lower part of 

 rump. Exposed tips of primaries, and inner webs of upper secondaries pure 

 umber-brown. 



Female — Yellowish olivaceous, purer dull yellow beneath ; above more olive 

 greenish. 



This species is one of wide distribution, its habitat in the United States, 

 including the "Eastern Province," is north to Nova Scotia, and west toward the 

 Rocky Mountains, along the streams watering the plains, through Texas, into 

 Eastern Mexico, Central America, the northern part of South America, as well 

 as some of the West India islands. 



In the different regions of its habitat the species undergoes considerable 

 variations as regards shades of color, and proportions. Specimens from Texas 

 and Eastern Mexico exhibit a decided tendency to longer bills and more 

 slender forms than those of the eastern United States ; the tails longer and 

 colors rather purer. In Central America and New Grenada the species acquires 

 the greatest perfection in the intensity and purity of the red tints, all specimens 

 being in this respect noticeably different from those of any other region.* 



Specimens from Peru (39849(5>, 39849(^, and 39850 9, head-waters Huallaga 

 River,) are undistinguishable from specimens from the eastern United States. 



Pyranga Cooperi, Ridgway, n. s. 



Sp. ch. Length 8-60, extent 13-50, wing 4-24, tail 3-68, culmen -84, tarsus 



•80. -j- Generally rich pure vermi- 

 lion, similar to that of cestiva, but 

 brighter than in eastern exaruples 

 of this, and less rosaceous than in 

 Central American specimens. Up- 

 per surface scarcely darker than 

 lower, the head above being scarce- 

 ly different from the throat, and 



abruptly lighter than the back, which, with the wings and tail, is of a much 



* Of this highly colored form, the average length of five specimens is 7-55; of twelve 

 the wing is 3-67, tail 2-80, culmen -GT. Thus the size is seen to be slightly smaller than 

 the .fstira of the north. The bills also appear to be a little darlcer, but tliere are no other 

 diflferences. 



3434-4- 



t The mean of six specimens is somewhat less— wing 4-00, tail 3-58, culmen -82. 



[June, 



