S UPE R B T A N « H , cái^-a:; A
FARADIÜJ: '
THE SUPERB TANAGER.
Calliste fastuosa, L,ESS.
- y y O less than five species may possibly be confounded under this name by
amateurs. Indeed, I feel tolerably sure that three of these have been
exhibited at Bird-shows, under the title of ''Superb Tanagers." Of these, I have
myself seen one, and that the least like the t3'pical species (namely C./estiva) under
this very appropriate, though quite inaccurate denomination.
The true Superb Tanager has the upper surface of the head and neck of a
glittering emerald green colour; the back velvety black in front, brilliant orange
or bright cadmium yellow behind; the wings and tail black, edged above with purple,
blackish below; the outer secondary feathers brilliant orange; the lesser wingcoverts
emerald green; iinder surface of the body deep purplish bhie, passing into
silvery blue on the breast; the middle of the throat and the chin black, divided one
from the other by a line of greenish blue; length 5fo inches; bill black; legs dark
brown; iris of eye brown.
The female resembles the male, excepting that its colouring is less brilliant.
The Superb Tanager is a native of Pernambuco, and, according to W. A. Forbes,
is believed to be peculiar to that province, from which place "skins are occasionall}'
received by the dealers in Paris and elsewhere."
" I t is a species often seen, too, alive in the Zoological Gardens of Europe,
though no naturalist seems to have yet met with it in the wild state. It does not
appear to be common in Pernambuco, at least I only met with it twice; once near
Macuca, where I shot a female out of some bushy capodra, and again at Quipapa,
where I saw what I believe was this species in the virgin forest. The bird,
however, was perched at a great height from the ground on the topmost branches
of a large tree, and outy the brilliant orange of the rump was visible. Whilst
staying at Cabo, a freshly shot adult of this bird was also brought to me to skin."
Herr August Wiener says;—"In the market-places of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, or