76 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Bange. — Temperate North America .southward through Mexico and 

 Central America and tropical South America to Argentina, Bolivia, 

 and Peru. 



The species with longer and more pointed wing comprise all except 

 P. leucoptera^ P. ardens, P. erythrocephala^ and P. roseo-gidains. These 

 latter differ further in having a shorter and more turgid bill, especially 

 the two last named; but I am not inclined to consider the differences 

 sufficient to justify generic separation, especially since P. hidentata is 

 intermediate with respect to the wing-formula. P. ruh'a is the longest 

 winged member of the genus, and is the only one without a commis- 

 sural tooth, though this is indicated b}^ a more or less obvious convex- 

 ity of the maxillary tomium where the usual tooth-like projection is 

 located.^ P. erytlirohielas comes next in length of wing, and the com- 

 missural "■ tooth," though present, is less developed than in any other 

 species except P. ruhra and P. ludoviciana, the latter agreeing 

 with P. hidentata in having the bill more slender than other species, 

 with the culmen nearly or quite straight for the greater part of its 

 length. The commissural tooth is most developed in P. Jiejxdica^ P. 

 testacea.) and their allies. 



The wing-tip is at least as long as the tarsus and usuall}" much longer 

 in all the species except those with rounded wnng and short, turgid bill, 

 in which the distance from the tip of the shortest secondary to that of 

 the longest primar}^ is very much less than the tarsus, in fact but little 

 if any more than half the length of the exposed culmen. In these, 

 too, the tail is nuich longer in proportion to the wing, but this is due 

 more to abbreviation of the wing than elongation of the tail. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SXTBSPECIES OF PIRAXGA. 



a. Wing more than four times as long as tarsus; outermost (ninth) primary longer 

 than tifth. 

 h. Back not streaked, 

 c. General color red, or at least the head red. (Adult males.) 

 d. Under parts entirely red; back reddish. 

 e. Wings and tail dull red; back duller or darker red than under parts; 

 under wing-coverts red or pinkish. 

 /. Maxillary tomium without a distinct median " tooth; "^ color pure 

 vermilion below, dull vermilion above. {I'imnga rubra. ) 

 g. Smaller and darker colored; wing averaging 95.5, tail 72.4, exposed 

 culmen 17.5. (Eastern United States, soutli in winter to Peru, 



etc. ) Piranga rubra rubra, adult male (p. 79) 



g(j. Larger and lighter colored; wing averaging 100.3, tail 80.5, exposed 



culmen 19.3. (Southwestern United States and western Mexico.) 



Piranga rubra cooperi, adult male (p. 83) 



' The National IVIuseum collection contains several specimens in which this so-called 

 tooth is very distinctly indicated. 

 " Very rarely indicated. 



