BIRDS — SYLVICOLIDAE — TANAGEINAE. 



299 



List of specimens. 



SETOPHAGA MINIATA, Swainson. 



Setophagaminiata, Swainson, Phil. Mag. I, 1827,368. — Ib. Anim. in Menag. (2j centenaries,) 1838, 293. (Not 



of Lafresnaye.) 

 ■Musdcapavulnerala, Wagler. Isis, 1831,529. 



Setophaga vultierata, Grat, Genera. — Bonap. Consp. 1850, 313. — Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 18. 

 Setophaga caslanea, Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1839, 42. 

 Muicicapa derhami, Gieaud, Texas Birds, 1841 ; pi. iii, f. 2. 



Sp. Ch. — ^Tipper parts, with head and neck all round, darl< plumbeous ; beneath, carmine red. A dark brownish chestnut 

 patch on the forehead. Throat tinged with black. Under wing coverts white. Tail black ; the outer two feathers, with the 

 outer web, tlie four outer, with the tips, white. Length about 3.25 ; wing, 2.55 ; tail, 3.05. 



Hab. — Northern Mexico to Guatemala. 



This species is larger thougli somewhat similar in shape to S. ruticilla, and has a proportionally 

 broader tail. The wing is much rounded ; the first quill equal ahout to the seventh. 



A specimen from Guatemala differs in having the middle tail feathers narrower, (the others 

 lost.) The black of the throat is purer and more continuous. The crown is occupied by a sub- 

 quadrate patch of orange chestnut ; the front and sides of the crown quite pure black. The 

 size is considerably less. 



List of specimens. 



Sub-Family TANAGRINAE. 



The precise position of the l^nagers is a matter of much uncertainty, the relationship to the 

 Fringillidae being very close. Both have the nine primaries and the scutellate tarsi, and the 

 bill in some genera resembles that of unquestionable finches ; it is, however, usually longer^ 

 and though stout at the base is not strictly conical, and lacks the great strength necessary for a 

 hard vegetable instead of soft animal diet, or one of berries and fruits. 



Of the large number of known tanagers but two genera are found in the United States — 

 Pyranga and Euphonia. These maybe readily distinguished by the large bill, higher than broad 

 at the base, with a distinct tooth in the middle of the commissure in Pyranga, and the broad, 

 short, depressed bill, with a double notch near the tip, of Euphonia. 



The characters of the genera are chiefly taken from Mr. Sclater's masterly monograph, as 

 more accurately expressing their distinctive features than the examination of the North American 

 species alone can furnish; 



