SUMMER RED BIRD. 
85 
farther that night, so when within a few hundred yards of land the anchor was let go, the chain 
rattled out, the schooner swung around and headed up to the eastward facing the strong current 
which was sweeping from the ocean into the Gulf of Mexico. The sails, which had been 
lowered, were now nicely furled, the boat was dropped into the clear water, and in a few 
moments we were standing on the land which we had so long wished to visit. 
I was much disappointed in the Key as it is very small, containing but six acres of land, and 
is nearly destitute of vegetation, being composed of lime rock which is covered with very little 
soil. There are three tall cocoanut trees growing there, and at the time of our first visit five or 
six bunches of low shrubs, but no other trees or bushes of any kind. This being the existing 
state of things we saw at once that there must have been some mistake in accrediting so many 
species to this desolate Key, while there are large and fertile islands lying on either side, where 
nearly all of these rare birds must have been taken. 
Among those to which special interest is attached is the Yellow-rumped Creeper. Dr. 
Wurdeman found it not uncommon in this section some years ago, but I am confident that it is 
not a regular visitor as I have looked for it in vain among the Keys later in the season when it 
ought to occur. 
FAMILY XIV. TANAGRIDiE. THE TANAGERS. 
Based mainly upon the genus Pyranga, the characters are as follows:—Bill large, upper mandible slightly curved and 
notched. Wings and tail not long, slightly emarginate. Coracoid bones shorter than the top of the heel, which is higher 
than one-half the width of the sternum. 
This family embraces many species, a greater part of which are inhabitants of the tropics. The Tanagers are 
closely allied to the Sparrows; in fact there are some genera in both families which are so nearly alike that it is 
difficult to decide as to which division they belong. 
GENUS I. PYRANGA. THE TOOTH-BILLED TANAGERS. 
Gen. Ch. Commissure of upper mandible provided with a moderately acute, but prominent tooth. Other characters 
as given above. 
PYRANGA -ZESTIVA. 
Summer Red. Bird. 
Pyranga aestiva Vieill, Nouv. Diet., xxviii, 1819, 291. 
Pyranga Cooperii Ridgway, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., June, 1869, 130. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sp. Ch. Eorm, slender. Size, medium. Sternum, not stoutly built. Tongue, thin, horny, somewhat 
acuminate, bifid, and provided on the end with coarse cilia. 
Color. Adult male in spring. Uniform vermilion red, darker above, brightest on the head and lighter below. 
Inner webs of wing feathers and tips of primaries brownish. 
Female at all seasons and male in winter. Olive-green above, more yellowish beneath. Wings, brown as in the 
spring male. 
Young of both sexes, similar to the female, but more ochrey below. * 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Adult male readily known by the uniform color. The female differs from P. rubra in having a larger bill and in 
being more yellowish below. The male of the second year is frequently marked in patches with the green of the 
preceding year. Distributed in summer throughout southern United States, wintering in South America. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of nine specimens from Eloricla. Length, 7-18; stretch, 11-85; wing, 3-60; tail, 3-00. 
bill, -72; tarsus, -71. Longest specimen, 7-80; greatest extent of wings, 12*12; longest wing, 3-90; tail, 3-10; bill, 
•80; tarsus, *75. Shortest specimen, 7-00; smallest extent of wings, 11-50; shortest wing, 3-45; tail, 2-90* bill 
•65; tarsus, -66. 
