Family 2. Fringillidæ. Bill encircled by a more or less distinct swelling at base. Frontal feathers not forming lateral angles. Edges of the jaws drawn in as far as the corner of the mouth; nine primaries; the first three usually longest. Legs with undivided plates behind.
Family 3. Tanagridæ. Bill more or less triangular at the base. Culmen always more or less curved. Frequently a tooth or notch in the upper bill, sometimes fine serrations. Wings moderate; somewhat pointed; primaries nine. Tarsus and toes short and stout. Hind toe stout and long. Claws curved.
Group II. Coræognathæ. Palatine bone broad and rather flat behind, the external angles prolonged, not extended into a vertical plate. Base of bill generally narrower. Primaries nine or ten. This section embraces, of North American forms:—
Mniotiltidæ,
Motacillidæ,
Alaudidæ,
Sylviidæ,
Turdidæ,
Cærebidæ,
Hirundinidæ,
Ampelidæ,
Laniidæ,
Troglodytidæ,
Certhiidæ,
Paridæ,
Icteridæ,
Corvidæ,
all of which have already been described in the present work, with the exception of the last two.
The family of Tanagers is peculiar to the New World, which abounds in species of a great variety of forms. Only one genus, Pyranga, actually enters within the limits of the United States, with four well-marked species, there being many others in Central and South America.
Genus PYRANGA, Vieill.
Pyranga, Vieillot, Ois. Am. Sept. I, 1807, iv.—Ib. Analyse, 1816, 32.—Sclater, Pr. Zoöl. Soc. 1856, 123.
Phœnisoma, Swainson, Class. Birds, II, 1837, 284.
Gen. Char. Bill somewhat straight; subconical, cylindrical, notched at tip; culmen moderately curved; commissure with a median acute lobe. Wings elongated; the four first primaries longest. Tail moderate, slightly forked. Colors of the male chiefly scarlet, of the female yellowish.