Plate LXIII. 



CARDINALIS PHGENICEUS. 



(VENEZUELAN CAEDINAL). 



Cardiiialis plicBniceus . . . Bp. P.Z.S. 1837, p. Ill, et Consp. I. p. 501. 

 „ „ ... Scl. Cat. Am. B. p. 100. 



... Scl. et Salv. P.Z.S. 1868, p. 170. 



Coccineus, loris et mento nigris, alis intus fuscis, extus cum interscapulio et eauda testaceo-rubris : crista elongata 

 coceinea : rostro pallide corneo, pedibus fuscis : long, tota 7'0, alas 3'1<, caudae 3'3, tarsi '95. Fern. Supra fusco-cinerea, 

 crista elongata nigricante coccineo tincta, loris et mento nigricantibus : subtus ocbracea cauda schistacea coccineo 

 perfusa. 



Sab. in Venezuela littorali {Goering). 



The Venezuelan Cardinal is a beautiful representative of the well-known northern species, 

 the " Red-bird" or " Virginian Cardinal" of the United States. It is of nearly the same form, 

 but is readily distinguishable by its smaller size, longer crest, and the want of the black band 

 on the forehead. 



This bird was first described by the late Prince Bonaparte in "a paper published in the 

 Zoological Society's " Proceedings" for 1837, under the MS. name applied to it by Mr. Gould 

 in his collection. The habitat there given is somewhat vague, being described as " the country 

 southward of the Bay of Honduras." We are, however, enabled to state with certainty that 

 its true patria is the littoral of Venezuela. Mr. Anton Groering's first collection from this 

 district, of which we have lately g-iven an account in the Zoological Society's " Proceedings" 

 contained a pair of this fine species. Mr. Goering, who obtained these birds in the vicinity of 

 Carupano, informs us that it is strictly confined to the neighbourhood of the coast, being never 

 met with beyond a few leagues in the interior. 



Our figure of the male of this bird is from a specimen pui'chased of Verreaux, that of the 

 female from the example obtained by Mr. Goering as above-mentioned. Both birds are now in 

 Sclater's collection. 



The only well-established ' species of Cardinal besides the present is the Virginian 

 Cardinal, which extends from the Southern United States through Mexico to Yucatan and 

 Belize. Our friend Professor Baird has separated the western bird obtained by Mr. John 

 Xanthus at Cape St. Lucas in Lower California under the name CarcUnalis igneus (Proc. Ac. 

 Phil. 1859, p. 305, and Elliot B. N. Am. Part I, t. IV.) But judging from a specimen in Sclater's 

 collection and from the characters assigned to it by the describer, we are not able to regard this 

 as more than a slight local race of C. virginianus. 



August, 1868. 



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