442 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



13180 



S^S^h^- 



^^SQP,eh 



111 the accompan villi,' cut we j^nve outline i)( tlie bill of the two varieties 

 of Pi/raiuja astira as <(iiii]iaiiMl with a iH^ar ally, /'. soira, of South Amer- 

 ica. (l-'irjO, P. fiMico ; :U,:U4, J\ ffsfint var. Coojuri ; :A),\i\)4, P. saira.) 

 This species is one of wide distribution ; its habitat in the United States 



including tlie " Eastern Province," north 

 to Nova Scotia, and west toward the 

 liocky M(nintains, along the streams 

 watering tlie ])lains, through Texas, into 

 Eastern Mexico, Central America, and 

 tlie northern part of Soutli America, as 

 well as some of the West India islands. 



In the ditl'erent regions of its habitat 

 the species undergoes considerable vari- 

 ations as regards shades of color and 

 proportions. S}>ecimens from Texas and 

 Eastern Mexico exhibit a decided ten- 

 dencv to longer bills and more slender 

 forms than those of the Eastern United 

 States ; the tails longer, and colors rather purer. In Central America and 

 New Granada the species accpiires the greatest ]>erfection in the intensity 

 and purity of the red tints, all specimens Icing in this respect noticeably 

 different from those of anv other reuion.^ 



Specimens in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, from Peru 

 (39,84'J (?,:)0,84'J (^,aiid :>«),.S."i(» 9, huad-waters HuaUaga Kiver;, are undis- 

 tinguishable from those killed in the eastern Unite<l States. 



The young male exliil)its a variegated jiluniage, the red appearing in 

 patches upon the other colors of the female ; in its changing plumage, the 

 red generally predominates on the head, and often individuals may be seen 

 witii none anywhere else. In this condition there a])pears to be a great re- 

 semblance to the P. cn/fhrotrji/ift/d (see syno})tical table), judging from the 

 description, but which apjiears to be considerably smaller, and perhaps has 

 the red of the head more continuous and sharply defined. 



The young male in first summer resembles the female, but has the yellow 

 tints deeper, the lower tail-coverts approaching orange. 



Habits. The Summer liedbird is found chiefly in the Southern States, as 

 far north as Southern New Jerst^y ami Illinois. Mr. Audubon speaks of their 

 occurring in Massachusetts, but ]\Ir. Lawrence has never known of their hav- 

 ing been found farther north than the ■Magnolia Swamps m\ar Atlantic City, 

 X. J. One or two recent instances of the capture of these birds in Mas.sa- 

 chusetts, as also in New P)runswick and Nova Scotia, have occurred, but 

 these must be regarded as purely accidental. 



* Of this hiijhly colortd form, tin' avcrac:*^ loiiirth of five s].('("inieiis is 7.i>o ; in twelvo the 

 average is, wiiijr, 3.67 ; tail, '2.St> ; enlme!!, .i'>7. The hill appears to he slightly darker than in 

 North American e.xajuples. 



