The original type specimen of this species, collected by Dr. J. K. Townsend, still continues to be the only one known, and has been presented by its owner, Dr. E. Michener, to the Smithsonian Institution.
Habits. Only a single specimen of this apparently well-marked species has been observed, and nothing is known as to its history. The bird was shot by Mr. J. K. Townsend, in an old field grown up with cedar-bushes, near New Garden, Chester Co. Penn., May 11, 1833.
Genus HEDYMELES, Cabanis.
? Goniaphea, Bowd. “Excurs. in Madeira, 1825,” Agassiz. (Type, Loxia ludoviciana, according to Gray.)
Habia, Reichenb. Av. Syst. Nat. 1850, pl. xxviii. (Type, L. ludoviciana; not Habia of Lesson, 1831).
Hedymeles, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 153. (Same type.)
Hedymeles melanocephalus.
1496 ♂
Gen. Char. Bill very large, much swollen; lower mandible scarcely deeper than the upper; feet almost coccothraustine, tarsi and toes very short, the claws strong and much curved, though blunt. First four primaries longest, and nearly equal, abruptly longer than the fifth. Tail broad, perfectly square. Colors: Black, white, and red, or black, cinnamon, yellow, and white, on the male; the females brownish, streaked, with the axillars and lining of the wing yellow.
There seems to be abundant reason for separating this genus from Guiraca; the latter is, in reality, much more nearly related to Cyanospiza, it being impossible to define the dividing line between them.