08 



NOUTil AMKRICAX BIRDS. 



The eggs of this si)ecies are of an oval sliapo, uiu; end lu'iiij;' only a little 

 less ro'.iulod than the othtT. Tiieir aveiano iiicasiinMiient is one inch in 

 length by .80 in hreaiUh. Tlieir i,'roun(l-i'o]()r is a dull ehalky-wiiite, over 

 wliicli are distributed well-delined blotches of .. ''ight und)er-l)rown, and also 

 a number of indistinct markings of i»uri)le. The spots are [)retty uniform 

 in tiieso colors, but vary greatly in size and distril)ution. In some eggs they 

 largely consist of fine dots, in others they are in hold l)lotc]ies. In some tlie 

 brown is mure contluent and the effect that of a deeper shade. 



GE.Nrs CARDINALIS, Uonai'. 



Cardinalis, liiiNAPAiiiE, Saggio di una (listiibuzioiic mctoil. tlei Aiiiiiiagli Vertebrati, 1831 

 (Agassi/). (Tyi)L', Lm-ia airdimilis, Linn.) 



Gen. Ciiah. Bill onoiinnuslj- lar;j(': ouliiioii \o\\ slii;iilly curved, coniinissni'o sinuated; 

 lower jaw broader than the length of tlie gonys, eoiit;idt;rably wider than the upper jaw, 

 about as deep as the latter. Tarsi longer than middle toe; outer toe rather the longer, 

 reaching a little beyond the base of the middle one; hind toe not so long. Wings 



Cnrffiitalis viri^ititanits, 



moderate, reaching over the basal third nl' the exposeil part oF the tail. Kotn' outer quills 

 graduated ; the lii-sl ecpud to the secondaries. Tail long, decidedly longer than the wings, 

 considerably graduated ; featiiers liro.id, truncated a little obliipiely at the end, the corners 

 rounded. Colors red. IFcail (nested. 



Tlie essential eliaraeters of this genus are the crested liead ; very large 

 and tliick bill extending far back on the foreh(>ad, and only moderately 

 curved above ; tarsus long(>r tluin middle toe ; muclt gnuluated wings, the 

 first prim.iry equal to the secondary (luills ; tlie long tail exceeding the 

 wings, broad and much graduivted at the; end. 



Of tliis geinis, only two species are known, one of them being exclusively 

 South American, the otlier beloTiging to North America, but in diiterent regions 

 modified into representative races. They may be defined as follows. 



