>/ .in//:/.' /,-/:/< /;//./>. S.~> 



farther that night, so when within a few hundred yards of land the anchor was let go, the chain 

 rattled out, the schooner swung around and headed up to the eastward facing the strong current 

 which was sweeping from the ocean into the Gulf of Mexico. The sails, which had been 

 lowered, were now nicely furled, the boat was dropped into the clear water, and in a few 

 moments we \\ere landing on the land which we had so long wished to visit. 



I was much disappointed in the Key as it is very small, containing but six acres of land, and 

 is nearly destitute of vegetation, being composed of lijnc rock which is covered with very little 

 soil. There are three tall cocoanut trees growing there, and at the time of our first visit five or 

 six bunches of low shrubs, but no other trees or bushes of any kind. This being the existing 

 state of things \\c >aw at once that there must have been some mistake in accrediting so many 

 species to this desolate Key, while there are large and fertile islands lying on either side, where 

 nearly all of these rare birds nm-t have been taken. 



Among those to which special interest is attached is the Yellow-rumped Creeper. Dr. 

 Wurdeman found it not uncommon in this section some years ago, but I am confident that it is 

 not a regular visitor as I have looked for it in vain among the Keys later in the season when it 

 ought to occur. 



FAMILY XIV. TANAGKIDJE. THE TANAGERS. 



i-d mainly upon the genus Pyrangn, the characters are as follows : Bill large, upper mandible slightly curved and 

 ' t'til nut In/i'i. tiijltily emarginate. Coracoid bonet shorter than the top of the keel, which is higher 

 tltnn inn -It'll/ /If iri'ltli nf tli' - 



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

 -< ly allied to the Sparrows; in fact there are some genera iu both families which are so nearly alike that it Is 

 diflicult t decide as to which division they belong. 



GENUS I. PYRAXGA. THE TOOTH-BILLED TANAGERS. 



(.is. CH. Commissure of upper mandible provided with a moderately acute, but prominent tooth. Other characters 



PYRANGA -ESTIVA. 

 Summer Red Bird. 



Fyranga lestira VIEH.L, Nouv. Diet., xxvlli, 1819, 291. 



Pyranga Cooperii KIDOWAY, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., June, 18G9, 130. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. CH. Form, slender. Size, medium. Sternum, not stoutly built. Tongue, thlo, horny, somewhat 

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



Culm:. .!' . Uniform vermilion red, darker above, brightest on the bead and lighter below. 



Inner webs of win-; feathers and tips of primaries brownish. 



,'ile at all seasons and male in winter. Olive-green above, more yellowish beneath. Wings, brown as in the 

 spring male. 



/ i if loth sexes, similar to the female, but more ochrey below. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Adult mule readily known by the uniform color. The female differs from P. rubra in having a larger )>ill and in 

 being more yellowish below. The male of tin >.<.. ml year is frequently marked in patches with the green of the 

 preeedingyear. DiMi United in summer throughout southern I'nited States, wintering in South Amu 



DIMENSIONS. 



Averai;.- measurements of nine specimens from Florida. Length, 7-18 ; stretch, 1 1-c.". ; win-;, a-cii; tail, 3-00. 

 bill, -~'2 : tarsus, -71. Longest specimen. 7-sii : :jrr:ite-t i \ient of \\iiiL'-. IL'-IL'; longest, win::. :','.KI; tail, ,'!-lo : I, ill, 

 80; tarsus. -75. Shortest specimen, "'DO; smallest extent of winn", 1 1 -."jo ; shortest win::. ::-4j ; tail, 2-iiO; bill, 



