TANAGRID^ — THE TAKAGERS. l^l 



species, and refers to the same speciinuu, uu page 327, as differing in some 

 respects from both C. excubitoroides and " C. elegans." It is darker abo\e than 

 tlie former, head like back, rump but little paler, Ijlack extending fartlier 

 down clieeks, the under parts more bluish on the sides, and tlie secondaries 

 with a white patcli on base of inner web visible irom above. Tliu Ijill is 

 one tilth longer (U.75 to 0.60), the nostril a fourth farther from the tip 

 (0.60 to 0.46). This makes tlie bill longer even than that of Swainson's 

 specimen (0.75 to 0.67). Such specimens being very rare would seem, per- 

 haps, nothing more than a variety, if not a far northern species. All that I 

 shot at Fort Mojave and San Diego were typically like C. excubitoroides. 



The figure on the opposite page represents the extent of white on the 

 secondary cj^uiLl. 



Family TANAGEID^, The Tanagers. 



Char. The precise position of the tanagers is a matter oi much uncer- 

 tainty, the relationship to the American FriiKjiUida: lieing very close. Both 

 have nine primaries and scutellate tarsi, and the liill iu some genera re- 

 sembles that of unquestionable finches ; it is, however, usually longer, and 

 though stout at the base, is not strictly conical, and lacks the great strength 

 necessary for a hard vegetable instead of soft animal diet, or one of ber- 

 ries and fruits. The bill is also notched behind the tip ; its margins are 

 not acute or iullexed, as in the Fringillidcc. 



p. l.udoviciana- 



