432 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The family of Tanagers is peculiar to the New World, which ahoumls in 

 species of a gi'eat variety of forrus. Only oue geuus, FyraiKja, actually enters 

 within the limits of the United States, with four well-marked species, there 

 being many others in Central and South America. 



Genus PYRANGA, Vieill. 



Pyranga, Vif.illot, Ois. Am. Seiit. I, IM17, iv. — 



Zool. Soc. 1856, 123. 

 PluenisoTna, Swaixsox, Class. Binls, 11, lS:i7, 284 



In. Analyse, 1816, 32. — ScL.\TER, Pr. 



Gex. Char. Bill somewhat straight ; subconical, cylindrical, notched at tip ; culmen 



moderately curved ; commissure 

 with a median acute lobe. Wings 

 elongated ; the four first pri- 

 maries longest. Tail moderate, 

 slightly forked. Colors of the 

 male chiefly scarlet, of the female 

 yellowish. 



The rictus is well provid- 

 ed with bristles, which bend 

 downwards, but if brought 

 forward would reach the 

 nostrils. These are round- 

 ed, and are closely crowded 

 by the frontal leathers. The 

 tarsus is shorter than the 

 middle toe, scutellate anteriorly, and smooth on the sides behind. The 

 lateral toes are about equal ; the basal joint of tiie middle toe united for 

 half its length to the inner toe, and by almost the whole length to the outer. 

 The following table may serve to distinguish the males of the several spe- 

 cies of this geiuis. The females of all differ from the males in having the 

 red replaced, the dusky of upper surface by olive-green, the brigliter tint of 

 lower parts by yellow. — R. RiixjWav. 



Flttfins:n rithrn. 



Species and Varieties. 



A. Wing and tail blackish, or deep black, in more or less striking contra.st to the 

 color of the upper parts. Wing with two light bands (except in P. mbra). 

 a. Body and head red in the $ ; yellow in the J. 



Wings intense black in the $ ; back not streaked. 

 1. P. rubra. Wmg without any bands, or with merely indications of 

 bright scarlet ones. ^. Intense pure scarlet; wings and tail intense 

 black. 9- Olive-green above (including wings and tail), pale yellow 

 below. Juv. ^. Olive-green above, yellow below; wings and tail 

 black. Hob. Eastern Province of I'uited States. 



