NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 11 



Specimens in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and in the collection 

 of Mr. Lawrence of New York. The females and young males are uniform 

 brownish black, not in the smallest degree mottled, as in the two preceding 

 species and in A. Gubernator. > 



4. Agelaius Gdbernator, (Wagler.) 



Psarocolius gubernator, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 281. 



Aud. B. of Am. pi. 420, Oct. ed. iv. pi. 215. 



Easily distinguished when adult from either of the preceding by its shoulders 

 being uniform rich crimson, without paler margin, though the young much 

 resemble each other. Abundant in western North America. 



Numerous specimens in Academy Museum and Museum Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion. 



5. Agelaius humeralis, (Vigors.) 



Leistes humeralis, Vig. Zool. Jour. iii. p. 442, (1827.) 

 La Sagra Cuba, Ois. pi. 5. 



Now well known as a bird of the Island of Cuba. This species is smaller 

 than either of the preceding, and not quite strictly of the same subgroup, 

 having the tail proportionally rather longer and general form apparently more 

 slender. Common in Cuba. Numerous specimens in the Academy Museum, 

 and Museum Smithsonian Institution, and in Mr. Lawrence's collection. 



In this species the females and young males are stated to be black, (as in A. 

 assimilis, alsj of Cuba.) A specimen in Mr. Lawrence's collection, which I regard 

 as a young male of this species, is clear uniform black, the rufous of the shoulder 

 beginning to appear. 



2. Xanthocephalus. 

 (Genus Xanthocephalus, Bonap. Consp. Av. 1. p. 431.) 



6. Agelaius xanthocephalus, (Bonaparte.) 



Icterus xanthocephalus, Bonap. Jour. Acad. Philad'a. v. p. 223, (1827.) 



Agelaius longipes, Swains. Phil. Mag. 1827, p. 436. 



Psarocolius perspicillatus, Wagler, Isis, 1829, p. 753. 



Icterus icterocephalus, Bonap. Am. Orn. 1. p. 27, (supposed by Bonaparte, 



to be Oriolus icterocephalus, Linn.) 

 Icterus frenatus, Licht., Isis, 1843, p. 69. 

 Bonap. Am. Orn. 1. pi. 3. Aud. B. of Am. pi. 388, Oct. ed. iv. pi. 213. 

 In my judgment this species is properly to be arranged as an Agelaius It 

 is an abundant bird of the central and western countries of North America, 

 and specimens are in all collections in this country, though formerly scarce and 

 highly valued. Straggling specimens, generally of young birds, have occasionally 

 been obtained in the States on the Atlantic, several having occurred, within 

 my knowledge, in the vicinity of Philadelphia. 



This species does not resemble any other sufficiently intimately to render 

 close comparison necessary, and can usually be recognized quite readily. It 

 is handsomely figured by Audubon, and by Bonaparte as above. 



3. Apfrobus. 



(Genus Aphobus, Cabanis, Mus. Hein, i. p. 194.) 



7. Agelaius chopi, Vieillot. 



Agelaius cbopi, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxxiv. p. 537, (1819.) 



Icterus unicolor, Licht. Verz. p. 19. (1823.) 



Icterus sulcirostris, Spix. Av. Bras. i. p. 67, (1824.) 

 Spix Av. Bras. i. pi. 64. Hahn Voeg. pt. xvi. pi. 2. 



Specimens obtained by Mr. John G. Bell, at Mazatlan, Mexico, have the bill 

 larger and in general stature are rather more robust than in specimens labelled 

 as from various parts of South America, but otherwise are quite identical. 

 Easily identified in this group by the sharply lanceolate and acuminate form 

 of the feathers of the bead and the oblique grooves at the base of the lower 

 1866.] 



