TANAGER. 



the back ; body above brown, spotted with black ; beneath paler, 

 spotted with dull brown ; quills and tail blackish ; legs dull brownish 

 flesh-colour. 



Inhabits Mexico. This bird has been ranked by different authors 

 under as many Genera, and thought by some to belong to the Gros- 

 beaks, but on attending more closely to the figure given by Edwards, 

 it appears by the bill to be a Tanager, and we have placed it 

 accordingly ; but how far it is a distinct species still remains uncertain. 

 M. Temminck considers it as allied to the Red Tanager, and if so, 

 probably the female, or an imperfect male. 



6.— MISSISSIPPI TANAGER. 



Tanagra Mississippensis, Ind. Orn. i. 421. Gm. Lin. i. 889. Nat. Misc. i. pi. 693. 



Vieil. N. Diet. Hist. Nat. 396. t. 21. 

 Tangara de Mississippi, Buf. iv. 252. PL enl. 741. Desm. Tang. pi. 32. 33. 

 Le Souiriri rouge, Voy. d'Azara, iii. No. 188. 

 Mississippi Tanager, Gen. Syn. iii. 218. 5. Shaw's Zool. x. 463. 



THIS is somewhat larger than the last. The bill bigger and 

 brown, both mandibles curved inwards ; differs from the former, in 

 having the wings and tail of the same red colour as the rest of the 

 plumage, though rather deeper ; legs reddish. 



Inhabits North America, frequent in the neighbourhood of the 

 river Mississippi ; said to sing very agreeably, though much louder 

 than the Red Species. It has the reputation of forming a hoard of 

 maize against winter, in the manner of the Cardinal Grosbeak. 

 Du Pratz affirms it of both these birds, but I have never met with 

 any person who could authenticate such a proceeding. In truth, the 

 bird chiefly feeds on insects and fruits, nor has any maize been found 

 in its stomach on dissection. 



