THE BIRDS 



OF 



NORTH AND MH)DLE AMERICA. 



By Robert Ridgwat, 



Curator, Division of Birds. 



Part II. 



Family TANAGRID^. 



THE TANAGERS. 



Non-granivorou8 (frugivorous and insectivorous), conirostral, " nine- 

 primaried," acutiplantar Oscines, with the commissure not abruptly 

 angulated or deflexed basally. and with the mandibular tomium not 

 distinctly angulated (never toothed) subbasally. 



As stated under the head of family Fringillidse, the division here 

 made (like all preceding ones) between the Tanagers and the Finches 

 is an arbitrary one. The Tanagridse, as here restricted, are without 

 much doubt a more or less artificial group, and I am very doubtful as 

 to whether the irmt-ea,ting ^kiphofiice (genera. J^uphonia, J-'yrrkuphonia, 

 and C/dorophonia) should not be separated from the others as a dis- 

 tinct family. This question, however, can only be settled after the 

 internal structure of all the genera has been carefully studied. 



From the Tanagridae as given by Dr. Sclater in his latest monograph 

 of the group ^ I have already removed the genera Pitylus (including 

 Caryothraustes, MhodotJwaupis, a.n6-Periporphy7'iis) and Saltator, which 

 are referred to the Fringillidee. Another genus must also be removed. 

 This is Calyptophilus Covy, usually placed next to Phmnicophilits; but, 

 being a "ten-primaried" bird, it obviously does not belong here.^ 



'Catalogue | of the | Passeriformes, | or Perching Birds, | in the | Collection | of 

 the I British Museum. | ^ | Fringilliformes: Part II | containing the Families | 

 Coerebidse, Tanagridse, and Icteridse. | By | Philip Lutley Sclater. | London: | 

 Printed by order of the Trustees. | 1886. | 



'CcdyptopMlus is of very doubtful position, but probably is a member of the Mimidae. 



3654r-voL 2—01 1 1 



