. 
: 
TANAGRINE. — ABERRANT GENERA. 121 
“finches (Coccothraustine), by means of the little genus 
Tiaris already mentioned, so we find many birds which 
exhibit a union of the characters of both. The bill 
becomes more conic, and frequently entire, but the wings 
retain their pointed form, or rather the external quill 
is very slightly abbreviated. One species in our pos- 
session has so much the structure and habit of Leuco- 
pygia, that, but for a very minute and scarcely perceptible 
notch near the tip, and the abbreviation f the inner toe, 
we should have had no hesitation in associating it with 
Leucopygia rather than with Nemosia. The next genus 
which appears to succeed in the series of forms is Aglaia, 
which is certainly one of the most natural groups in the 
family, whatever difference of opinion may exist re- 
garding its true situation. It is composed of the smallest 
_and the most beautiful of all the tanagers ; and is chiefly 
distinguished by a small, short, but somewhat thick- 
shaped, notched bill, with the frontal feathers very short, 
thick-set, and almost concealing the nostrils; the feet 
are small; the wings rather lengthened and pointed; 
and the tail even. Some of these characters belong to 
Wemosia, whose more lengthened and slenderer bill is 
possessed by the Tanagrella tenuirostris * hereafter de- 
scribed ; a bird which, on account of its peculiar bill, we 
have separated from the typical species. Euphonia, for 
the same reason, may form another subgenus, well dis- 
tinguished by the bill being uncommonly broad at its 
base, and suddenly compressed on its sides. Whether 
“we are to consider the Fringilla Zena as another type 
of form, or subgenus, in this group, must be left for 
future investigation ; but a bird in our collection, having 
the bill of Euphonia, but the colours and markings of 
F. Zena, excites a strong suspicion that both are con- 
nected by affinity; and yet, even admitting this, we are 
at present quite unprepared to show any relation between 
the types of Aglaia and Pipillo, the last genus which we 
place in the circle of the Tanagrine. Pipiilo (fig.168. a) 
evidently partakesas much of the finches as of the tanagers. 
* Motacilla velia Gm, ? 
“ 
