432 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The family of Tanagers is peculiar to the New World, which abounds in 

 species of a great variety of forms. Only one genus, Pijranga, actually enters 

 within the limits of the United States, with four well-marked species, there 

 being many othgrs in Central and South America. 



Genus PYRANGA, Vieill. 



Pyranga, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, iv. — Ib. Aiialj'se, 1816, 32. 



Zool. Soc. 1856, 123. 

 Pho&nisoma, Swainson, Class. Birds, II, 1837, 284. 



SCL.4.TEK, Pr. 



Gen. Char. Bill somewhat straight ; subconical, cylindrical, notched at tip ; culmen 



moderately curved ; commissure 

 with a median acute lobe. Wings 

 elongated ; the four first pri- 

 maries longest. Tail moderate, 

 slightly forked. Colors of the 

 male chiefly scarlet, of the female 

 yellowish. 



The rictus is well provid- 

 ed with Ijristles, which bend 

 downwards, Init if Ijrought 

 forward would reach the 

 nostrils. These are round- 

 ed, and are closely crowded 

 by the frontal leathers. The 

 tarsus is shorter than the 

 middle toe, scutellate anteriorly, and smooth on the sides behind. The 

 lateral toes are about equal ; the basal joint of the middle toe united for 

 half its length to the inner toe, and by almost the whole length to the outer. 

 The following table may serve to distinguish the males of the several spe- 

 cies of this genus. The I'emales of all differ I'rom the males in having the 

 red replaced, the dusky of upper surface by olive-green, the brighter tint of 

 lower parts by yellow. — E. Eidgway. 



Pi/ranga rubra. 



Species and Varieties. 



A. Wing and tail blackish, or deep black, in more or less striking contrast to the 

 color of the upper parts. Wing with two light bands (except in P. rubra), 

 a. Body and head red in the ^ ; yellow in the 9 • 



Wiiif/s intense black in the ^ ; back not streaked. 

 1. P. rubra. Wmg without any bands, or with merely indications of 

 bright scarlet ones. ^. Intense pure scarlet; wings and tail intense 

 black. 9- Olive-green above (including wings and tail), pale yellow 

 below. Jxv. ^. Olive-green above, yellow below; wings and tail 

 black. Hub. Eastern Province of United States. 



