408 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



externally with a green lustre. In the present specimen, which is probably not 

 fully mature, the tail is plain black. Bill and feet black, the latter (feet) 

 brownish ; claws strong, brownish black. 



Hub. Unknown. Spec, in Mus. Acad., Philadelphia, from the Massena 

 collection. 



The lustres of the plumage in this species are generally similar to those of 

 all the other species of the sub-group here designated Iloloquiscalus, but the 

 purple is rather darker than in either. The specimen now described is prob- 

 ably not mature in plumage, and the lustres of the plumage, therefore, not 

 entirely reliable as characters. 



Of all the specimens that I have seen of Quiscali, this comes the nearest to 

 Mr. Swainson's description and figure of Q. inflexirostris, and in fact there is no 

 other that I can suspect as possibly that species, on account of the peculiarly 

 curved bill. No locality is known to me, and at this time I do not remember 

 ever having seen the species mentioned by any writer since Swainson. 



8. QriscALUS lugubris, Swainson. 



Quiscalus lugubris, Swains. Cab. Cy. p. 299, (1838.) 

 Chalcophanes minor, Cabanis Mus. Hein. L, p. 297, (1851)? 



Cab. Cy. fig. 54 c. 



This is another of the species of this difficult group, with the lustres of the 

 plumage uniform purple on the head and body, and green on the wings and 

 tail. It is rather smaller than the species immediately preceding (Q. inftexiros- 

 tris) and decidedly smaller than all others preceding. Specimens from Trini- 

 dad and South America in the Acad. Mus., Philada. 



Adult male. Bill about the length of the head, commissure nearly straight, 

 but rather abruptly curved at the point ; wing rather long, third and fourth 

 quills longest and nearly equal ; tail rather long, graduated ; legs and feet 

 strong. Total length about 9i to 10 inches, wing 4 to 4|, tail 4 to \\ inches. 



Black, entire plumage of the head and body with a rich purple or violet 

 lustre tinged with golden ; shorter wing coverts or shoulders purple ; wings 

 and tail and upper and under tail coverts with a green lustre ; bill and feet 

 black. 



Hah. South America. Island of Trinidad. Spec, in Mus. Acad., Philada. 



The largest specimen now before me is from Trinidad, all the measurements 

 of which are rather larger than as given by Mr. Swainson in his description, 

 as above cited. The smallest is probably from Brazil, and is that which at 

 present I regard as described by Dr. Cabanis as C. minor as above. In all the 

 species of this group, of which I have series of specimens, there is some diver- 

 sity of size, and, finding no other appreciable character than this diversity in 

 the specimens now under examination. I regard them as one species. This bird 

 seems to be the most common species of South America and of the Island of 

 Trinidad. 



9. Quiscalus mexicanu's, nobis. 



A single specimen in the Acad. Mus., selected with other birds from a large 

 collection made in Mexico by M. Bruzin, is different from either of the preced- 

 ing species. It is one of the smaller species and most resembles the immedi- 

 ately preceding (Q. lugubris), but is rather larger and has the bill much stronger 

 aud more curved Its colors and lustres are nearly the same as that species, 

 but seem to be of a richer golden-purple lustre on the under parts (as in some 

 species of Molothrus and in Q. Gundlachii of Cuba.) 



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 9| to 10^ 

 inches, wing 4.], tail 4} to 4.} inches. 



Black, entire plumage of the head and body with a rich golden purple or 

 violet lustre, especialy on the neck behind and breast ; shoulders bluish purple ; 

 wings and tail and under tail coverts with green lustre ; the upper tail coverts 



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