BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 129 



Genus TACHYPHONUS Vieillot. 



Tacliijphoii t(,s YiKiLLoT, Analyse', 1S1(3, 33. (Tyi)e, TaiK/ani //o/;- male, ]kiffon,= 



Tanagra rufa Boddaert. ) 

 Pyrroto Vieillot, Analyse, ISKi, 45. (Type, TniKjaroiu- VA\iii)\\, = T<mH<jru rufa 



Boddaert. ) 

 Comarophugns Boit, I«y, 1826, 'J74. (Tyi)e, (Jriolua Icacojdcnis Gnn'\i\i, = Taiia- 



gra rufa Boddaert. ) 



Mediimi .sized or small Tanaoers with rather slender bill (but exposed 

 culiuen at least two-thirds as long- as tarsus), tail rounded and ec^ual 

 to or longer than length of Aving to tips of secondaries, and with the 

 outermost (ninth) i)riniary longer than third; adult males mostly uni- 

 form black, usually relieved l)y white under wing-coverts, and some- 

 times by a 3^ellow, tawny, or red crown -patch or crest; females plain 

 rufous, ])rown, or olive, paler (sometimes j^ellow) below. 



Bill subconical, compressed terminally, shorter than head; exposed 

 culmen not longer than middle toe with claw (usually shorter), straight 

 basally (sometimes for basal half or more), strongly convex terminally, 

 the tip slightly (sometimes distincth') uncinate; gonys decidedly shorter 

 than length of maxilla from nostril, very slightl}^ convex or nearly 

 straight; maxillary tomium nearly straight, but middle portion appre- 

 ciably convex, distinctl}^ but not abruptly, deflected basally, and more 

 or less distinctly notched subterminally; mandibular tomium slightly 

 sinuate, or quite straight to the decidedly, sometimes a))ruptly, deflected 

 basal portion, the tip of the mandible acute; basal depth of bill equal 

 to or slightly exceeding the basal width, and equal to about two-thirds 

 or three-fourths the lateral length of the mandible. Nostril exposed, 

 roundish or horizontally oval, with moderately broad superior mem- 

 brane. Rictal bristles moderately long, but very slender and incon- 

 spicuous. AVing rather k)ng (about three and one-fourth to three and 

 five-sixths times as long as tarsus), rounded (seventh to fifth primaries 

 longest, ninth shorter than fifth, sometimes shorter than third); pri- 

 maries exceeding secondaries usually by less than length of exposed 

 culmen (b}^ more in T. surlnaraensls). Tail shorter than wing by 

 much less than length of tarsus, rounded or nearly even, the rectrices 

 moderately broad, with compact webs and rounded tips. Tarsus 

 decidedl}^ longer than middle toe with claw; lateral claws reaching 

 about to base of middle claw; hind claw decidedly shorter than its 

 digit. 



Coloratkm. — Adult males deep l)lack, usually with white on lesser 

 wing-coverts or under wing-coverts, sometimes with a bufl", tawny, 

 orange, or red crown-patch (occasionally developed into a crest), the 

 rump sometimes buffy; females and young very difi'erent — ])lain l)rown- 

 ish, olive, or rusty above, paler below. 



Range. — Southern Honduras to southeastern Brazil, Bolivia, and 

 Peru. 



3664— VOL 2—01 9 



