PASSERES—TANAGR1DAE— PYRANGA HEPATICA. 237 



PYRANGA HEPATIC A, Swains. 

 Liver-colored Tanager. 



Pyranga hepatica, Swains., Phil. Mag., i, 1827, 124. — Kennerly, P. E. R. Rep., 

 Whipple's Route, x, 1859, 30.— Cotjes, Proc. Acad. Nat, Sei. Phila., 1806, 

 71.— Bd., Brew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, i, 1S74, 440, pi. xx, f. 9, 10.— Hen- 

 shaw, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1873, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 108. 



Pyranga azarw, Woodii., Sitgreave's Exp. Zufli & Col. Riv., 1854, 82. 



Iu 1873, a single female of this little known species was shot at Camp 

 Apache August 4. In a grove of oaks on the skirts of a pine forest, about 

 twenty miles south of Apache, I saw, in the course of an afternoon, perhaps 

 half a dozen males. They appeared to be feeding upon insects, which they 

 gleaned from among the foliage and smaller branches of the oaks. They 

 were excessively shy, so much so that I found it difficult to get within gun- 

 shot of them. The species was introduced into our fauna by Dr. Wood- 

 house, who took a single female in the San Francisco Mountains, New Mex- 

 ico. No other specimens have since been obtained till the present time. 



In 1 874, this tanager was again found when we approached Camp Apache, 

 and was ascertained to be an abundant inhabitant of the pine woods. At this 

 date, July 12, they, without doubt, had nests; but I was unable to find 

 them, though I spent some time in the search, watching the birds as they 

 moved slowly about in the tops of the pines searching for insects. At this 

 season, they capture these generally while at rest, but occasionally sally 

 forth and take them in the mid-air. With the exception of the call notes, 

 used by both sexes, and which resemble the syllables chuck, chuck, several 

 times repeated, they were perfectly silent, and neither here nor elsewhere 

 did I ever hear any song. This was the more remarkable, as from this date 

 till the last of August I saw individuals at short intervals all the way from 

 Camp Apache to Camp Crittenden, near the Mexican line. At Rock Canon, 

 the oak-woods among and on the limits of the pines were frequented by 

 numbers, and, July 21, the young, just from the nest, were taken. The 

 old birds manifested much affection and solicitude for their progeny, flying 

 down on the low branches, and, after venting- their anger in harsh notes, 

 returned to the side of their young and led them away to a place of safety. 



