45 



L., 13.00; W., 6.00; T., 6.09. 



Nest, generally in trees. The birds often nesting in colonies. Eggs four or five, 

 lightish green or smoky blue, with irregular lines, clots, blotches and scrawls of 

 purplish brown all over the surface; very variable. 



EUSTY GEACKLE. 



Adult male in summer. Entire plumage uniform glossy bluish black, tail 

 feathers of nearly equal length. 



Adult male in winter. Similar, but the feathers of the upper parts widely tip- 

 ped with rufous, the under parts similarly tipped with cream-bufCy ; a buffy line over 

 eye. 



Adult female in summer. Dark slate colour, glossy above, duller below; wings 

 and tail darker and more glossy. 



Adult female in winter. Similar but somewhat lighter, the upper parts tipped 

 with rusty and under parts tipped with cream buffy. 



L., 9.50; W., 4.60; T., 3.50. 



Nest, on the ground or in trees or bushes. Eggs, four grayish or light green, 

 very thickly covered with blotches and dots of purplish and reddish brown, very 

 variable. 



EED-WINGED BLACKKBIED. 



Adult male. Uniform black; lesser wing coverts bright scarlet; middle wing 

 coverts varying from buff to huffy white. In fall specimens the black is more or less 

 tipped with rusty. 



Female. Smaller under 8.00. Above blackish brown with pale streaks inclining 

 on the head to form median and superciliary stripes; below, whitish with many 

 sharp dusky streaks; sides of the head, throat and bend of wing tinged with 

 yellowish red. 



Male. L., 9.50; W., 4.70; T., 3.75. 



Nest, usually fastened to the rushes in a marsh. Eggs, four or five, pale blue, 

 curiously marked and scrawled with dark purplish brown. 



COWBIED. 



Adult male. Head and neck, dark chestnut brown, the rest of the plumage 

 glossy black with metallic reflections. 



Adult female. Dull brownish gray, rather paler below, especially on the throat. 



Immature in first plumage. Similar to the female, but whiter below, all the 

 features edged with buffy. 



Male. L., 7.90 ; W., 4.25 ; T., 3.05. 



Nest, none. The eggs, which are deposited in the nests of other birds, are dull 

 white, thickly dotted or sometimes blotched with brown. 



