QUISCALUS. 485 
3. Quiscalus tenuirostris. 
‘Quiscalus tenuirostris, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 299'; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 424°; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 
1866, p. 411°; Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 157, t.5*; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 397°. 
Scaphidurus palustris, Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p. 436°. 
Atro-purpureus, unicolor; alis et cauda nitenti-nigris; tibiis brunnescentibus ; rostro tenui. Long. tota 13, 
ale 6-8, caude rect. med. 7:3, rect. lat. 4-4, rostri a rictu 1-65, tarsi 2:0. (Deser. exempl. ex Mexico. 
Mus. Brit.) 
2 supra fusca ; dorso postico, alis et cauda nigricantibus ; superciliis distinctis et corpore subtus pallide brunnes- 
centibus ; gula et abdomine medio albicantioribus ; tibiis et crisso nigricante-fuscis ; rostro nigro, pedibus 
nigricantibus. Long. tota 11:0, ala 5:0, caude rect. med. 5:0, rect. lat. 3-4, rostri a rictu 1°3, tarsi 1-55. 
(Descr. exempl. ex urbe Mexico. Maus. nostr.) 
Hab. Mexico %, near the city ! (Bullock *, Boucard +), 
This Quiscalus appears to be confined to Central Mexico, for all the specimens we 
have seen were obtained, we believe, in the neighbourhood of the city of Mexico itself, 
and we agree with Mr. Sclater that it is extremely probable that Swainson applied the 
name Scaphidurus palustris to the same bird, which he says was found frequenting the 
marshes in the neighbourhood of Mexico. Q. palustris is the older name; but, as 
there is some doubt as to its application, it is better to call the bird Q. tenwirostris, 
according to recent custom, the name being very appropriate. The male of this species 
is readily distinguishable from Q. macrurus by its slender bill. The female is still 
more divergent, the breast being much paler than that of the female of the allied 
species, and there is a prominent superciliary streak which is characteristic. Nothing 
has been recorded of the habits of this species, except that it inhabits the marshes near 
the city of Mexico. 
4. Quiscalus mexicanus, = 44+ 4 
Quiscalus mexicanus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p.408'; Lawr. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4. p. 24°. 
“Black, entire plumage of the head and body with a rich golden purple or violet lustre, especially on the neck 
behind, and breast; shoulders bluish purple; wings and tail and under tail-coverts with green lustre; the 
upper tail-coverts also show a green lustre in some lights, but are tinged also with purple; bill and feet 
black. 
‘* Adult male. Bill longer than the head, thick, curved, especially in the terminal third of its length; wing 
moderate, second and third quills longest; tail moderate, graduated ; legs and feet strong. Total length 
92 to 10% inches, wing 43, tail 4} to 44 inches.” 
Hab. Mexico! (Bruzin), Guichicovi (Sumichrast 2). 
We have not yet recognized this bird, which, according to Cassin, belongs to a 
different section of the genus from that of which we have just been treating, as it is 
more nearly allied to @. /ugubris than to the larger members of the genus. The type is 
in the Museum of the Academy of Philadelphia, and formed part of a large collection 
made in Mexico by M. Bruzin. Mr. Lawrence recognized a specimen of Sumichrast’s, 
obtained in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, as belonging to this species. 
