158 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus AGELAIUS, Vieill. 



J^gelaim, Vieillot, "Analyse, 1816." (Type, Oriolus pJuenieeiis, L.) 



Gen. Cn ar. First quill shorter thau second ; claws short; the outer lateral scarcely reach- 

 ing the base of the middle. 

 Culruen depressed at base, 

 parting the frontal feathers ; 

 length equal to that of the 

 head, shorter than tarsus. 

 Both mandililes of equal 

 thickness and acute at tip, the 

 edges much curved, the cul- 

 men, gonys, and commissure 

 nearly straight or slightly 

 sinuated ; the length of bill 

 about twice its height. Tail 

 moderate, rounded, or very 

 slightly graduated. Wings 

 pointed, reaching to end of 

 lower tail-coverts. Colors black with red shoulders in North American species. One 

 West Indian with orange-biiff. Females streaked except in two West Indian species. 



Agtlaius phanUeus. 



The nostrils are small, oblong, overhung by a membranous scale, 

 bill is higher than broad at the base. 

 There is no division between the anterior 

 tarsal scutelhe and the single plate on 

 the outside of the tarsus. 



The females of two West Indian 

 species are uniform black. Of these 

 the male of one, A. assimilis of Cuba, 

 is undistinguishable from that of A. 

 phceniceus ; and in fact we may without 

 impropriety consider the former as a 

 melanite race of the latter, the change 

 appreciable only in the female. The 

 A. humeralis, also of Cuba, is smaller, 

 and black, with the lesser co\erts brownish orange-buff. 



The 



AgelaiHs phanieeus. 



Species and Varieties. 



Common Characters. Males glossy black without distinct bluish lustre, lesser 

 wing-coverts bright red. Females without any red, and either wholly black or 

 variegated with light streaks, most conspicuous below. 



A. phceniceus. Tail rounded. Red of .shoulders a bright scarlet tint. 

 Black of pliniiage without bluijih lustre. Fenuiles with wing-coverts edged 

 with brownish, or without any light edgings at all. 

 o. Female continuous deep black, unvariegated. 



