NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 407 



lustre, but quite generally purplish or lustrous black. Bill and feet black. 

 Total length about 11 inches, wing 5, tail 4 J to 5 inches. 



Adult female. Similar to the male in colors, but smaller ; total length about 

 9 to 10 inches, wing 4}, tail 4 inches. 



Hab. Porto Rico. Spec, in Mus. Smiths. Inst., and Mus. Acad., Philada. 



Sixteen/specimens of this species are in the Smiths. Mus. from the Island of 

 Porto Rnco and one specimen from the Massena collection without label, in 

 the Acad. Mus. It resembles other species of this group in colors and lustres 

 of plumage, being most nearly related to those above mentioned from Jamaica 

 and Cuba, with which it has usually been confounded. It is distinguishable 

 without difficulty, on examination, by its short wings and tail. This is un- 

 doubtedly the species alluded to under the name " Quiscalus barita" by Mr. E. 

 C. Taylor in Ibis, 1864, p. 168, and stated by him to be very abundant in Porto 

 Rico. 



6. Quiscalus niger, (Boddaert.) 



Oriolus niger, Bodd. Tab. PI. Enl. p. 31, (1783.) 

 Troupiale noir, de St. Domingue, Buffon, (name on plate.) 

 Le Troupiale noir, Buif. PI. Enl. iii., p. 241. 



Buff. PI. Enl. 534. 



Specimens of both sexes in the Smiths. Mus. from the Island of St. Domingo 

 or Havti, and distinct specifically from either of the preceding or any other 

 species known to me. This is, in my opinion, undoubtedly the bird figured by 

 Buffon as cited above, but not with entire success, the tail not being sufficiently 

 " etagee," though so described in his text. This figure is about the size of the 

 female ; the bill and feet are too lightly colored. It probably represents the 

 female in plumage not mature. 



This species is smaller than either of the preceding, the male being rather 

 smaller than the female of the Cuba species, Q. Gundlachii, and the female (in 

 this species) much smaller than the male. The bill is straight, and gradually 

 pointed, not curved, more slender than in either of the preceding, and the 

 commissure nearly straight ; wing moderate, third and fourth (prills longest 

 and nearly even; tail rather long, graduated; legs and feet rather strong. 

 Easily distinguished from either of the preceding by its straight, sharp bill. 



Adult male. Black, head and body with a dark purple lustre nearly uniform 

 above and below; wings and tail above with a green lustre. Bill and feet 

 bluish black. Total length about 10} inches, wing 5, tail 4} inches 



Adult female. Similar to the male in color and lustres'of plumage. Smaller, 

 total length about 9 inches, wing 4}, tail 4 inches. 



Hab. St. Domingo. " Jeremie." Spec, in Mus. Smiths. Inst., Washington. 



7. Quiscalus inflexirostris, Swainson. 



Quiscalus inflexirostris, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 300, (1838.) 



Cab. Cy. fig. 52, (wood cut.) 



One specimen only in the Acad. Mus. seems to be this species, but which is, 

 unfortunately, without label stating locality. The bill is exactly the length 

 and otherwise very nearly as given by Mr. Swainson as cited above, though 

 somewhat thicker. It is the only specimen that I have ever seen in which the 

 commissure is an uninterrupted curve or arc of a circle, not straight nor sin- 

 uated as in all other species known to me (except Q. niger of St. Domingo) 

 and described in this memoir. It is apparently adult, but probably in not 

 quite mature plumage. 



Male nearly adult? Bill rather longer than the head, curved, the upper 

 and under mandibles nearly equal in thickness, commissure curved and the 

 edges of both mandibles indexed ; wing moderate, second, third and fourth 

 quills longest and very nearly equal ; tail moderate or rather long, graduated ; 

 legs and feet strong. Total length about 10 inches, wing 5, tail A\ inches, 

 tarsus about 1^, chord of upper mandible about one and four-fifths inches. 



Black, entire plumage of head and body with a dark purple lustre ; wings 



1866.] 



