104 
Synopsis of the Birds 
Bill short, robust, hard, conic-compressed, trigonate and 
somewhat depressed at base ; upper mandible obtusely ca- 
rinated, curved and notched at tip, longer and wider, 
dnd overhanging the lower; lower somewhat turgid to- 
wards the middle, with the edges indexed : nostrils basal, 
lateral, rounded, open, partly covered by the frontlet 
feathers: tongue short, cartilaginous, acute, bifid at tip. 
Tarsus rather longer than the middle toe ; inner rather 
shorter than the outer, which is united at base to the middle 
one ; hind toe robust, equal in length to the inner ; hind nail 
largest. Wi moderate ; three first primaries subequal, 
longest. 
Female and young differ extremely from the male, in 
full plumage, which is subject to extraordinary changes, 
recording to the season. Moult semi-annually : colours very 
brilliant. 
Active: incautious. Solitary or in families: reside 
in woods and dry places. Feed indifferently on seeds, 
berries, and insects, which latter they take on the wing, 
Or seek carefully among the branches of trees. Build on 
trees of middling height. Abrupt in their motions : seldom 
descending to the ground, and then proceeding by hops : 
flight brisk. Voice not modulated, unpleasant. 
Peculiar to America ; chiefly between the tropics. 
By the relations of some of the species, passes into many 
other genera, such as Fringilla, Muscicapa, Lanius, Icterus, 
Quiscalus, Vireo, and even Sylvia ; and may be divided into 
six subgenera or sections, of which but one is found, during 
summer, within the limits of the United States. 
SUBGENUS PYRANGA. 
Tangaras Cardinals , Cuv. — Genus Pyranga, Vieill. 
Upper mandible with an obtuse tooth each side, near the 
middle. 
