142 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



colored species of Piranga, but outermost (ninth) primary shorter than 

 second (instead of decidedly longer than third); adult males with a 

 scarlet crown-patch and with more or less red on under parts (some- 

 times confined to the throat); females and young brown or olive 

 above, paler below. 



Bill as in the more slender-billed species of Piranga^ but narrower 

 (width at base scarcely if at all exceeding basal depth), the gonys rela- 

 tively shorter, and distinctly, though slightly, convex, and maxillary 

 tomium without any indication of a tooth-like projection. Nostrils 

 narrower. Rictal bristles strong, conspicuous, and frontal bristles 

 (over nostrils) well developed. Wing about three and three- fourths to 

 a little more than four times as long as tarsus, much rounded (seventh 

 to fourth primaries longest, ninth shorter than second); primaries 

 exceeding secondaries by much less than length of tarsus. Tail shorter 

 than wing by much less than length of tarsus, sometimes nearly as 

 long as wing, more or less rounded, the rectrices rather broad, with 

 rather loose webs and somewhat pointed tips. Tarsus decidedlj'^ longer 

 than middle toe with claw; outer claw reaching about to or a little 

 beyond base of middle claw, the inner claw falling short of the latter; 

 hind claw shorter than its digit. 



Coloration. — Adult males reddish brown, reddish gray, or dusky, 

 with bright red throat and crown, the feathers of the latter sometimes 

 developed into a more or less obvious crest; females and young usually 

 brownish above, paler beneath, with or without a yellowish-bufl'y or 

 tawny crown-patch; adult female sometimes similar to the male, but 

 duller. 



Range. — Southern Mexico to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, 

 and western Ecuador. 



KBY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF PHtENICOTHKAUPIS. 



a. General color red. (Adult males.) 

 6. Scarlet crown-patch margined laterally with a black or blackish brown line; 

 lores and suborbital region not dusky or sooty; chin and sides of upper throat 

 not grayish or sooty. {Plwsincothravpis rubica. ) 

 c. Darker, the back, etc., liver brownish. 

 d. Throat conEpicuously brighter red than chest. (Eastern Mexico to north- 

 ern Hcrxduras. ) Plioenicothraupis rubica rubicoidea, adult male (p. 144) 



dd. Throat net conspicuously brighter red than chest. 

 e. Darker above, paler below; smaller (wing averaging 90.8, tail 78.5, tarsus 

 23.5, midd'e toe 14.7). (Yucatan and Campeche. ) 



PhoBiiiootliraupis rabica nelsoni, adult male (p. 145) 

 ee. Paler above, darker below; larger (wing averaging 93, tail 83.3, tarsus 

 24.6, middle toe 16.3) . (Oosta Eioa to Isthmus of Panama.) 



Phoeniootbratipis rubica vinaoea, adult male (p. 146) 

 cc. Paler, the back, etc., reddish light chestnut or dull brick reddish. 

 d. Under parts dull flesh color, purer flesh color on throat. (Pacific coast of 

 Oaxaca and Guerrero. ) . .Phoenioothraupis rubica affinis, adult male (p. 147) 



