*16 



PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



Hob. Brazil, Ecuador. ^Probably inhabits nearly all of South America. 

 Spec, in Mus. Acad., Philada., and Smiths. Mus., Washington. 



Easily distinguished from the species immediately succeeding (C. Mexicanus) 

 by the bronzed and yellowish lustre of the upper parts in the adult, which is 

 always present but varies much in extent (in the adult plumage only). The 

 entire head is fine blue, and the under parts have a yellowish violet lustre : 

 wings and tail purplish black. The bronzed lustre of the upper parts varies 

 according to age or stage of plumage, and is frequently restricted to a wide 

 transverse band across the upper part of the back and neck behind, and is to- 

 tally wanting in the young bird. The entire plumage in this species has fine 

 brilliant lustres, as herein described, except the wings and tail, which are rich 

 purplish black. 



The young in this species has the bill always thick and strong, though not 

 so long as in the adult. The entire plumage (in the young) is brownish black, 

 frequently with the tips and edges of feathers showing some lustre. Total 

 length of young usually about 12 inches. The two descriptions of Mr. Swain- 

 son, cited above, I regard as very probably those of the adult and young of this 

 species. 



2. Cassidix mexicanus, Lesson. 



Cassidix mexicanus, Less. Traite d'Orn. i. p. 433 (1831.) 

 " Corvus mexicanus, Gm." Less, ut sup. 

 Corvus mexicanus, 6m. Syst. Nat. i. p. 375? 



This is apparently an abundant species of Mexico and Central America. 

 Specimens in the Smithsonian Museum, from Mexico and Guatemala, and in 

 Mr. Lawrence's collection from Panama. It is easily distinguished, in adult 

 plumage, from the preceding by its fine violet purple lustre, nearly uniform on 

 the upper and under parts ef the body (not bronzed yellowish and greenish, as 

 in the preceding, C. ater). 



Large, entirely black, with a fine violet purple lustre on the body above and 

 below; head bluish violet; wings and tail fine purplish or greenish black. Bill 

 very strong, thick, curved in its upper outline, pointed, flat above and extend- 

 ed into the frontal plumage, ending in a semicircle ; wing long, pointed, with 

 the second quill slightly longest ; tail rather long, rounded ; feet and legs 

 strong; claws curved, sharp. Total length 14 to 15 inches, wing 7 to 8, tail 

 6 to 6J inches. 



Young. Bill thick and strong as in the adult, but shorter ; entire plumage 

 dull brownish black, or with feathers edged and tipped with the lustres of the 

 adult. Total length usually 12 or 13 inches. 



About the same size or slightly smaller than the preceding, with the legs and 

 feet rather stronger. Easily distinguished in adult plumage, but the two spe- 

 cies are very similar and scarcely distinguishable in young plumage, both be- 

 ing nearly uniform brownish black. This is very probably the species named 

 by Lesson, as above, but whether it is the Corvus mexicanus, Gmelin, may be 

 difficult to determine. 



Hub. Mexico, Central America. Spec, in Mus. Acad., Philada., and Mus. 

 Smiths. Inst., Washington. 



3. Cassidix oryzivorus (Gmelin). 



Oriolus oryzivorus, Gm. Syst. Nat. L p. 386 (1788). 

 The Rice Oriole, Lath. Gen. Syn. i. p. 423. 



Gray Gen. ii. pi. 84? 



This is a species much smaller than either of the preceding, and is, perhaps, 

 that figured by Mr. George Robert Gray in his great work, "The Genera of 

 Birds," as bove cited. For the purpose of more fully understanding this spe- 

 cies, I copy the original description of Latham, on the faith of which, only, 

 Gmelin gave the name : 



"Length nine inches. Bill an inch and a half long, black, stout, sharp, a 

 very little bent at the tip; flat on the top towards the base, where it is round- 



[Dec. 



