350 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — PA SSERES— OSCINES. 



the same. Averaging rather less than ^. The bird lacks the buffy shades characteristic of 9 

 rubra, besides being decidedly smaller. The general coloration, in its clear olive and yellow, is 

 exactly that of 9 erythromelas ; from which distinguished by white or yellow markings on 

 wings. The ^ at first resembles the 9 , >^^^ in progress toward maturity every gradation be- 

 tween the two is presented. The distinctive dark dorsal area, and traces of the red of the head 

 soon appear. In a usual condition of incomplete dress, the black of the back is mixed with gray 

 or olive the yellow of the back of the neck is obscured, that of the under parts is shaded with 

 olive, and the head is only partly red. Western U. S., from the Great Plains and eastern foot- 

 hills of the Rocky Mts. to the Pacific ; British Columbia, S. in winter to Guatemala ; accidental 

 eastward, as in New York and New England. Breeds in all its N. Am. range and winters 

 extralimital. Habits, nests, and eggs like those of our other Tanagers ; eggs 0.95 X 0.65. 

 This beautiful bird was discovered by Lewis and Clark, in their Camp Chopuunish, on the 

 Kooskooskee River, in Idaho, June 6, 1806: see my ed. of their Travels, 1893, p. 1035; 

 but it was first named and described by Wilson, Am. Orn., iii, 1811, p. 27, pi. 20, fig. 1. 

 P. rub'riceps. (Lat. rubriceps, red-headed.) Gray's Tanager. Adult J": Whole head 

 and more or less of the neck and breast bright red ; rest of under parts rich yellow ; back 

 olive-green, changing to yellowish on rump and upper tail-coverts; tail blackish with oliva- 

 ceous edgings of the feathers ; wings the same, excepting the lesser and middle coverts, which 

 are yellow. About the size of the last, and somewhat resembling it, but quite distinct ; wing 

 3.75 ; tail 3.40. The sexual differences, and changes of plumage of young males, are probably 

 coincident with those of P. hidoviciana. U. S. of Colombia ; accidental in Dos Pueblos, Santa 

 Barbara Co., California. Pyranga rubriceps G. R. Gray, Gen. of Birds, ii, 1844, pi. 89; 

 Piranga rubriceps Bryant, Auk, Jan. 1887, p. 78; Ridgw., Man., 1887, p. 589; CouES, 

 Key, 4th ed., 1890, p. 899; A. 0. U. List, 2d ed., 1895, p. 255, No [007. 1]. 



Family HIRUNDINID JE : Swallows. 



Swallows are fissirostral Oscine Passeres with nine primaries. Bill short, broad, fiat, 

 somewhat triangular, deeply cleft ; gape wide, about twice as long as culmen ; mouth thus 

 opening to about beneath eyes. This is the strongest character of the family in comparison 

 with its Oscine allies, and one perfectly distinctive, though some genera of Hirundines, espe- 

 cially Progne, approach Amp>elidce in form of bill. The bill narrows rapidly to the compressed 

 acute tip. Nasal fossfe short and wide ; nostrils directed laterally or upward, sometimes cir- 

 culai and completely exposed, sometimes scaled over. Culmen convex, scarcely a thii-d as long 

 as head; tip of upper mandible overhanging, usually nicked. Rictus smooth (or with a few 

 inconspicuous bristles?). Wings extremely long and strong, the pinion bearing only 9 prima- 

 ries, 1st of which equals or exceeds 2d in length, rest so rapidly graduated that 9th is scarcely 

 or not half as long as 1st ; secondaries and their coverts also very short ; all these quill-feathers 

 broad and stout. An acute, thin-bladed and somewhat falcate wing, of surpassing volatorial 

 power, results from these modifications. Tail of 12 rectrices, perhaps abnormally only 10, 

 usually forked, or at least emarginate, often deeply forficate, the outermost feathers being in 

 this latter case narrowly linear for a considerable distance. Feet short, small, and weak, ill- 

 adapted to secure foot-hold, and very badly formed for walking. Swallows scarcely use their 

 feet for locomotion, relying mainly upon their prowess of pinion. Tarsal envelop thoroughly 

 Oscine in structure, being scutellate in front and laminate behind; sometimes partially, or 

 almost entirely, feathered ; tarsi commonly shorter than lateral toes. The digits possess the 

 normal number of phalanges; basal phalanx of middle digit commonly coherent with one or 

 both lateral toes ; hallux ordinary, not reversible. Digits commonly naked and scutellate, 

 rarely feathered to the claws. Claws comparatively strong, compressed, well-curved, and 

 acute, apt for clinging. Plumage soft, smooth, and blended, most frequently glogsy or even 



