j324 SUMMER TANAGER. 



h moderately well develoiied. and has its oi-i;iin beluw the division of the bronchialis, ib. c, b, s. Both 

 divisions of "the bronchialis are \vell developed, ib, C. B. The four lowermost tracheal whole rings are fused 

 ton-ether, Fig. CO, b, and the upper portion of both bronchial muscles are attached to them, and below to the 

 three lower, free tracheal and to the three laryngeal half rings, but not at all to the bronchial half rings. There 

 is a vibratory space between the upper bronchial half ring and the lower tracheal ring, ib., f, that is governed by 

 a sini'-ular, thin, Y-shaped muscle, that extends from the two upper bronchial half rings, to a muscle that is 

 spread between the bronchial tubes their entire length. See ib. d, I, and ib. e. where is given a very greatly 

 enlarged view of this muscle, but all the figures are enlarged twice the natural size. 



The tympaniform membrane is peculiar, for the first three half !-ings it is vibratory, and triangular in 

 shape, then narrows, so as to become nearly or quite functionless, being a mere division of the bronchial 

 rings ; ib. v, is the vibrating surface ; below it is the nanv.w portion. 



" Although the os transversale is present, and supports a very slight semiluna membrane, the bone is so 

 firmly fixed that it cannot oscillate in any degree, see ib., a. 



With such a musical apparatus as this, the Evening Grosl)eak xnust give a most peculiar song, and 

 according to accounts, this appears to be a fact. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Length, 7^.50 to 7.70 : stretch, lo.UO to 1;j.7.j ; wing, -t.oO to -i.r,:, ; tail, 2.G0 to 2.C.J ; bill, .7."> to .SO ; 

 tarsus, .70 to .75. 



HABITS. 

 The Evenin<^' Grosbeak appears to be of a restless, wandering (Iispositi(jn and 

 altliout-b occurring as a constant resident in the far west occasionally wanders eastward 

 even as far as Massachusetts. They appear of a social disposition, and even when visit- 

 iuf localities distant from their usual haunts appear ]iot as stragglers but in Hocks. In 

 the winter of 1890 nvunbers suddenly appeared in New England, where they remained 

 rmtil late spring. 



FAMILY XIV. TANAGRIDAE. THE TANAGERS. 



Based mainly upon the genus Pyranga, the characters arc as follows : — Bill large, upper mandible 

 slightly curved and notched. Wings and tail not long, slightly emarginate. Coracoid bones shorter than 

 the top of the keel, which is higher than one half the sternum. 



This family embraces many species, a greater part of which are inhabitants of the tropics. The 

 Tanagers are closely allied to the Sparrows ; in fact, there are some genera in both families which are so 

 nearly alike that it is difficult to decide as to which division they belong. 



GENUS I. PYRANGA. THE TOOTH-BILLED TANAGERS. 



Gbn. C. Commissure of upper mandible provided with a moderately acute, but prominent tooth. 

 Other characters as given above. 



PYRANGA RUBRA. 

 Summer Tanager. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form, slender. Size, medium. Sternum, not stoutly built. Tongue, thin, horny, somewhat 

 acuminate, bifid, and provided on the end with coarse cilia. 



