142 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



colored species of Plrcmga^ but outermost (ninth) priniar}^ sliorter than 

 second (instead of decidedly longer than third); adult males with a 

 scarlet crown -patch and with more or less red on under parts (some- 

 times conhned to the throat); females and 3"oung brown or olive 

 above, paler below. 



Bill as in the more slender-billed species of Piranga^ but narrower 

 (width at base scarcely if at all exceeding basal depth), the gonys rela- 

 tively shorter, and distinctly, though slightly, convex, and maxillary 

 tomium without any indication of a tooth-like projection. Nostrils 

 narrower. Rictal bristles strong, conspicuous, and frontal bristles 

 (over nostrils) well developed. Wing about three and three-fourths to 

 a little more than four times as long as tarsus, much rounded (seventh 

 to fourth primaries longest, ninth shorter than second); primaries 

 exceeding secondaries hv much less than length of tarsus. Tail shorter 

 than wing by much less than length of tarsus, sometimes nearly as 

 long as wing, more or less rounded, the rectrices rather broad, with 

 rather loose webs and somewhat pointed tips. Tarsus decidedly longer 

 than middle toe with claw; outer claw reaching about to or a little 

 beyond base of middle claw, the inner claw falling short of the latter; 

 hind claw shorter than its digit. 



Cokmition. — Adult males reddish brown, reddish gray, or dusky, 

 with bright red throat and crown, the feathers of the latter sometimes 

 developed into a more or less obvious crest; females and young usually 

 brownish above, paler beneath, with or without a yellowish-butiy or 

 tawny crown-patch; adult female sometimes similar to the male, but 

 duller. 



Range. — Southern Mexico to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, 

 and western Ecuador. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF PIIffiNICOTHRAUPlS. 



a. General color red. ( Adult males.) 



h. Scarlet crown-patch margined laterally with a black or l)lackish brown line; 

 lores and suborbital region not dusky or sooty; cliin and sides of upper throat 

 not grayish or sooty. {Pha'uicothraupis ruhica.) 

 c. Darker, the back, etc., liver brownish. 



d. Throat concpicuously brighter red than chest. (Eastern ^lexico to north- 

 ern Hciiduras. ) Phoenicothraupis rubica mbicoides, adult male (p. 144) 



dd. Throat net conspicuously brighter red than chest. 

 e. Darker above, paler below; smaller (wing averaging 90.S, tail 78.5, tarsus 

 23.5, midd'e toe 14.7). (Yucatan and Campeche. ) 



Phcenicothraupis rabica nelsoni, adult male (p. 145) 

 ee. Paler above, darker below; larger (wing averaging !):>, tail 83.3, tarsus 

 24.6, middle toe 16.3) . (Costa Rica to Isthmus of Panama. ) 



Phoenicothraupis rubica vinacea, adult male (p. 146) 

 cc. Paler, the back, etc;., reddish light chestnut or dull brick reddish. 



d. Under parts dull flesh color, purer flesh color on throat. (Pacific coast of 

 Oaxaca and Guerrero. ) . .Phoenicothraupis rubica affinis, adult male (p. 147) 



