AGLATIA Gyrola. 
Red-headed Tanager. 
nr 
Family Fringillide ?—G. Tanagra. Auct. 
Aglaia. Lesson. Man. 2, 423. 
Bill small, short, compressed; nostrils concealed by velvet-like 
feathers. Wings rather lengthened, pointed ; 2, 3 and 4 quills 
equal and longest. Tail even. 
Type.—Tanagra Tatao.—Lin. 
Speciric CHARACTER. 
Vivid green, sometimes varied on the breast with blue: the whole 
head bright rufous, bordered round the neck with a narrow 
golden ring. 
Tanagra Gyrola. Lin. 1,315. Lath. In. Orn. 1, 427. 
Desmarest Tan. pl. 15. Vieil. Orn. 2, p. 778. 
Le Rouverdin. Buff. Son. 12, p. 341. Pl, Enl. 133, f.2. Edw. 
pl. 23. 
Red-headed Tanager. Lath. Syn. 3, 233. Gen. Hist. 6, 16. 
— ee 
Tue splendid little birds arranged under this group belong 
exclusively to Tropical America. They are generally seen 
in pairs, frequenting open woody tracts; feed principally 
upon fruits, and seldom if ever perch upon the ground: 
In the variety, and richness of their colours, they are only 
surpassed by the Humming Birds. 
The Red-headed Tanager has never, we believe, been 
found in Brazil; although it occurs in Cayenne, Surinam, 
and some of the West India Islands. Buffon was its first 
describer ; he informs us that in French Guyana it appears 
in small flocks, two or three times in a year ; arriving when 
the fruit of a particular tree is ripe, and departing when it 
begins to fail. Some specimens are more brilliant than 
others, originating probably from age or locality: those 
from Cayenne are known by a delicate blue tinge on the 
breast. A further variety has been described (Ency. Meth.), 
in which the upper part of the neck is also red, and the 
back marked by a large spot of dull rufous (brun-marron). 
We suspect this will prove a distinct species. The rank of 
this group, whether as generic or subgeneric, can only be 
determined by analyzing the whole family. 
