1 88 FINCHES. 



the short rainy season, and as rapidly disappear. They often eat Small portions 

 of the succulent leaves of the Opiintia galapageia during the dry season, pro- 

 bably for the sake of the moisture they contain. The colonists i^omplain that 

 they do much mischief by digging up roots and seeds from a depth of e^•en six 

 inches. 



Snb-Faviily III. 

 THE TANAGERS. TANAGRIN/E. 



General Characteristics. — Bill more or less triangular at the base, with the cul- 

 nien more or less arched to the tip, which is more or less emarginated ; the wings 

 moderate and somewhat pointed ; the tarsi and toes short and slender, the hind toe 

 rather lengthened and strong, with the claws strong and curved. 



The Tanagers are distinguished from the other finches by their 

 bill having a distinct and well-defined notch near the end of the 

 upper mandible. They are all natives of the warmer parts of 

 America, abounding most in those regions which lie nearest to 

 the equinoctial line. They are in general small birds, the largest 

 being intermediate in size between a sparrow and a thrush, while 

 the majority do not exceed the size of a linnet: some are smaller. 

 It is quite evident, from the great strength of the bill possessed 

 by some, and by the notch which is conspicuous in all, that these 

 birds feed both upon seeds and insects picked from the branches 

 of trees, for they are rarely seen upon the ground. Their colours 

 are generally bright, and in many species particularly rich and 

 beautiful; some, indeed, are ornamented with the most vivid hues, 

 or glossed with rich reflections of gold, rendering them inferior 

 only to the humming-birds. A few possess considerable vocal 

 powers, and the notes of the sub-genus Enphonia, as its name 

 implies, are particularly musical. The impossibility of providing 

 tanagers with their native insect food has prevented them from 

 ever being brought alive to Europe. 



Some {Pipilo) are fond of close sheltered thickets near streams 

 of water, where they can find plenty of dry leaves, among which 

 they search for worms and the larvse and eggs of insects ; they 

 also feed on various hard seeds and grains. Their nest is built on 

 the ground, among the dry leaves near, and sometimes under, a 

 thicket of briars : it is large and substantial, the outside being 

 formed of leaves and dry pieces of grape-vine, bark, and the in- 

 side of fine stalks of dry grass ; the cavity is usually completely 



