On the Genus Icterus ofM. Brisson. 1^ 



Tanagra Bonariensls. Gmel. Syst, 1. p. 898. sp. 38. Le Tan- 



gavio. PI EnL 710. Violet Tanager. Lath. Gen. Syn, Vol. 



HI. p. 222. sp. 9.— Vol. VI. p. 29. sp. 34. Ed. T\ 

 Fringilla pecoris. Gmel, Syst. Vol. I. p. 910. sp. 62. Lath. 



Ind. Orn. p. 443. sp. 28. Emberiza pecoris. Wils. Am. 



Orn. Vol. II. p. 145. pi. 18. f. 1, 2, 3. Le Pinson de Vir- 



ginie. Briss. Orn. Tom. III. p. 165. sp. 41. Le Brunei. 



Buff. Tom. IV. p. 138. Troupiale de la Caroline. PI. EnL 



606. f. I. Cowpen Bird. Cat. Car. Vol. I. pi. 34. Cowpen 



Finch. Lath. Vol. III. p. 269. sp. 24. 

 Emberiza oryzivora. Linn. Si/st. Vol. I. p. 311. sp. 16. Lath. 



Ind. Orn. p. 408. sp. 30. Wils. Am. Orn. Vol. II. p. 48 



pi. 12. f. 1, 2. L'Ortolan de La Caroline. Briss. Tom. III. 



pi. 16. f. 3. L'Agripenne, ou rOrtolan de riz. Buff. Tom. 



VII. p. 357. Ortolan de la Caroline. PI. Enl. 3SS. f. 1. 



Rice Bunting. Cat. Car. Vol. I. t. 14. Reed Bird. Edw, 



t. 291. f. sup. 



This last bird has a peculiarity in the shafts of its tail feathers, 

 which, being stronger than usual, and prolonged beyond the 

 webs, seem to carry to the extreme a character which is obser- 

 vable in some of the species of Le'istes. The birds of this species 

 ijise their tails * after the manner of the Woodpeckers^ in assisting 



* See Wflson. Am. Orn. Vol. M. p. 54. There is a species which has 

 been described by.Gmelin, under the name of Oriolus caudacutus, [Syst.Yol.l. 

 p. 394. ep. 49.] and figured by Dr. Latham a.s the Shnrp-tailed OHoley IGen. 

 Si/n. Vol. H. pi. 17.] which from the description and figure given of It ap- 

 pears at first sight to be nearly connected with the Emberiza Oryzivora, and 

 to be referable to the same group. But this species proves on more intimate 

 knowledge to be the Fringilla caudacuta, or Sharp-tailed Finch, of the " Ameri- 

 can Ornithology," and to occupy a very distinct station among the Coni- 

 rostres, in the family of FringillideB, where in conjunction with another species 

 described in the same work, the Fringilla maritima, Wils., it offers very dis- 

 tinguishing generick peculiarities, both in its habits and external characters. 

 The relation however between the Emberiza oryzivora, Linn., and these last 

 mentioned birds is strongly analoj;ical ; as may be seen by a reference to Mr. 

 Wilson's accountof the climbing manners of these birds. [See-«4m. Orn. ubi sup. 

 and Vol. IV. pp. 68. 70.] I take this opportunity of observing that there are many 

 other species referred by systematick writers to the Linnean genus OrioliWjwhich 

 neither accord with the true Orioles, nor with the Icteri of M. Brisson which 

 Vol. II. N 



