95 



SUMMER RED-BIRD. 

 TAJVAGBA .ESTIVA. 

 [Plate VL— Figs. 3 and 4.] 



Tanagra Mississipensis, Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 421, 5.-^Mexican Tanager, Latham Syt). Ill, 

 219, 5, B. — Tanagra variegata, Ind. Orn. I, 421, 6. — Tajiagra astiva^ Ind. Orn. I, 422, 

 l.—Muscicapa rubra, Linn. Syst. I, 326, 8.— Buff. VI, 252. PL enl. 741. — Catesb. 

 Car. I, 56. — Merula flammula^ Sandhill Red-bird, Bartuam, 299. — Pe ale's Museum, 

 No. 6134. 



THE change of color which this bird is subject to during the 

 first year, and the imperfect figure first given of it by Catesby, have 

 deceived the European naturalists so much, that four different spe- 

 cies have been formed out of this one, as appears by the above 

 synonyms, all of which are referable to the present species, the 

 Summer Red-bird. As the female differs so much in color from 

 the male, it has been thought proper to represent them both; the 

 female having never to my knowledge appeared in any former 

 publication; and all the figures of the other, that I have seen, being 

 little better than caricatures, from which a foreigner can form no 

 just conception of the original. 



The male of the Summer Red-bird (fig. 3.) is wholly of a rich 

 vermilion color, most brilliant on the lower parts, except the inner 

 vanes and tips of the wings, which are of a dusky brown; the bill 

 is disproportionably large, and inflated, the upper mandible fur- 

 nished with a process, and the whole bill of a yellowish horn color; 

 the legs and feet are light blue inclining to purple; the eye large, 

 the iris of a light hazel color; the length of the whole bird seven 

 inches and a quarter, and between the tips of the expanded wings 

 twelve inches. The female (fig. 4.) differs little in size from the 

 male ; but is above of a brownish yellow olive, lightest over the 



