GENERIC CHARACTER.
Bill conic, pointed, notched, nearly triangular at the base, a little inclining at the tip.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER
AND
SYNONYMS.
Shining green, beneath yellowish green; wing coverts violet: frontlet and upper part of the back black.
Var β. Crown and chin violet: neck, and sometimes rump, orange.
Tanagra Tricolor: viridis splendens, subtus viridi-flavescens, tectricibus alarum violaceis, capirostro dorsoque superiore nigris uropygio fulvo. Lath. Ind. Orn. 428. 29.
Tanagra Tricolor β. Tangara cayanensis varia cyanocephalos. Briss. Sup. p. 62. t. 4. f. 2.
Tanagra Tricolor: viridis, capite, mento, jugulo et pectore pallide thalassinis capistro nigro, cervice collique lateribus viridi-aureis, gulæ macula magna dorsoque nigris, pectoris fascia cærulea, abdomine crissoque ex flavicante viridibus. Gmel. T. 1. p. 2. 891.
Tangara varié à tête verte de Cayenne.—Buff. Pl. Enl. n. 33. f. 1.
β Tangara varié à tête bleue de Cayenne.—Buff. Pl. Enl. n. 33. f. 2.
The history of this splendid species of Tanager is unknown to Naturalists: we are aware only, that independently of the varieties arising from its different states of plumage, there are two pretty distinct and accurately defined varieties, one of which has the head of a fine green, the other of a rich blue. Some authors consider these two birds as specifically different, while others are as well assured they are the same. Dr. Latham observes that these birds are, without doubt, the same, differing only in sex, but which of them is the male is not ascertained. Some of the French writers, among whom is Vieillot, express a different opinion, for they assure us neither the female or the young are known, and they further add, that in the Brazils this bird is common, while in Guiana it is rare. Vieillot once regarded them as distinct species, but has subsequently described them as the same. Both birds, according to Dr. Latham, are from Cayenne; we have seen both kinds from the Brazils.
The size of this bird is that of the house sparrow: the rump is usually green, but in the blue headed variety, is sometimes flavous, more or less inclined to orange.
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London. Published as the Act directs, by E. Donovan & Mess.rs Simpkin & Marshall, Nov.r 1 1822.