230 TANAGRID^. 



Subfamily VI. PITYLIN^. 



In the Pitiflince we have the most Fringilliue of Tanagers, and iu 

 some cases 1 find it impossible to draw any line between forms 

 assigned to the present subfamily and the trne FriwjlUidcv. Dr. 

 Cabauis has, in fact, placed the whole series of Piii/lince in the last- 

 named family ; and Bonaparte, apparently following his lead, has 

 done the same. I3ut to adopt this course is merely to shift the 

 difficulty from one place to another ; for it is by no means easy to 

 decide whether to place such forms as Schisiochlaim/s with the 

 Piiyliiice or with the typical Tanagrince. Again, in other points 

 some of the Pitylince approach nearly the MniotUtidce, some of 

 the more slender-biUed Chlorosphu/i being very likely to be mis- 

 taken for Basileuteri and allied forms. On the whole, therefore, 

 it seems to be best to retain the PityJince within the limits of the 

 Tanayridce, placing them at the end of the series, where Cardinalis 

 and such-like forms among the FringiUidce would naturaUj^ follow 

 them. 



To divide the Pitylince into genera is not difficult ; but to arrange 

 these genera in a form adapted for explanation by a key seems to 

 be well-nigh impracticable without bringing them into an unnatural 

 series. The only way to get over the difficulty is to divide the sub- 

 family into sections, as follows : — 



a. Bill short, pointed, subconical, iu some 



cases almost Mniotiltine ; feet mode- 

 rate or weak; wings short PifyhrKS pnrvirostres, p. 236. 



^. Bill longer, stronger, in some cases 



almost FringiUiue ; feet large and 



strong Pitylina fringilUrostres, p. 253. 



y. Bill conical; culmen slightly incurved; 



wings short ; feet weak Pitylince conirostres, p. 272. 



8. Bill larger, stronger ; culmen more 



incurved ; feet larger Pitylina validirostres, p. 280. 



e. Bill very strong; upper mandible 



swollen ; culmen much incurved . . Pitylince tuniidirostres, p. 297. 



a. PITYLIN^ PAHVIEOSTEES. 



This section embraces Chlorospinyus and the allied genera, in 

 which the beak varies much in thickness, and in the extreme forms 

 comes very near that of some of the Mniotiltince. These are all 

 arboreal birds, clad in dull olives and browns. 



Key to the Genera. 

 Bill thicker. 



\ Tail moderate, more or les^quared . . 43. Chlorospingus, p. 237. 



( Tail lengthened, much rounded .... 44. Ubothraupis, p. 251. 

 Bill very thin and slight 45. Micbospingus, p. 252. 



