24. PTRANGA. 181 



Bill short, stout, 

 a". Median tooth distinct : 



I bill widened at base 31. Creurgops, p. 215. 



] bill not widened 32. Malacothraupis, 



b". Median tooth obsolete ; [p. 216. 



I rictal bristles slight 33. Eucojietis, p. 217. 



) rictal bristles strong 34. Thichothraupis, 



[p. 220. 



24. PYRANGA. 



Type. 

 Piranga, Vieill. Ois. de VAm. Sept. vol. i. pref. p. iv (1807) . . P. rubra, 



Pyranga, Vieill. Analyse, p. .32 (1816) P. rubra. 



Phoenisoma, Sw. Class. Birds, ii. p. 284 (1837) »,•••• P- rubra. 



Pha3nicosoma, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 24 (1850) P. rubra. 



The genus Pyranga contains a series of about 16 species, the 

 males of which are known hy their brilliant scarlet dress, which in 

 the females is replaced by j'ellow or olive. Three of the species 

 visit the North-American continent for breeding-purposes, and thus 

 attain a more uorthern range than any other members of the family. 

 The others are distributed through Central and South America down 

 to the Argentine Republic. 



In some species of Pyranga the tooth in the middle of the com- 

 missure is very prominent (P. hidentata), in others (P. erythroce- 

 pliala) it is almost or quite obsolete. 



The Pyrangce of the United States build in trees, making an open 

 nest, and lay bluish eggs spotted with reddish. 



Key to the Species. 



A. General plumage, including wings, red. 



a. Interscapidium red. 



a'. Bill pale brownish ; commissure not 

 toothed. 



I Head red, uniform vrith back 1. (estiva, p. 182. 



j Head lighter than back 2. cooperi, p. 184. 



b' . Bill dark, commissure toothed. 



a". Commissure strongly toothed ; colour 

 above uniform. 

 a'". Above rich brick-red : 



] below similar, but lighter .... 3. testacea, p. 184. 

 ( below rosy on throat and belly . . 4. luemaha, p. 185. 



b'". Above darker brick-red 5. Jiglina, p. 185. 



b". Commissure indistinctly toothed ; 



head and rump lighter than back. . 6. saira, p. 185. 



b. Interscapulium more or less cinereous. 



c'. Auriculars reddish 7. azarcp, p. 186. 



d'. Auriculars greyish 8. hepatica, p. 180. 



B. General plumage ashy ; wings and tail 



reddish 9. reseigularis, p. 187, 



C. General plumage red ; wings black. 



c. Wings uniform black 10. rub)-a, p. 188. 



