ICTERID^ — THE ORIOLES. 



16^ 



are more oljloiig in sliape than the preceding, but nearly eciually obtuse at 

 either end. They are similar in ground-color to the johcenicais, but are of a 

 slightly deeper shade of blue, and are marked around one end with a ring 

 of dark slaty-brown, almost black, lines, and irregular oblong blotches. 



Genus XANTHOCEPHALUS, Bonap. 



XantJiOcephrdus, BoNAl'. Conspectus, 1850, 431. (Tyi"^. Icterus icicrucephalus, Bunap.) 



Gen. CnAK. Bill conical, the lensrth about twice the height; the outlines nearly 

 straight. Claws all very long ; much curved ; the inner lateral the longest, reaching 



Xanthorephahis hterocephnbtx. 



beyond the middle of the middle claw. Tail narrow, nearly even, the outer web scarcely 

 widening to the end. Winps long, much longer than the tail ; the first quill longest. 



This genus differs from typical Agdnius in much longer and more curved 

 claws, even tail, and first quill longest, instead of the longest being the 

 second, third, or fourth. The yellow head and black body are also strong 

 marks. 



Xanthocephakis icterocephalus, B.urd. 



YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 



Ictenis icfrroccphahtf:, Bonap. Am. Orn. I, 182,5, 27, jil. iii. — Nktt. Man. I, 1832, 176. — 

 In., (2d od.,) 187 (not Oriolus ideroccplmlus, Linn.). Atjclaiiis ideroccpJiahcs, Cabanis, 

 Mus. Hcin. 1851, 188. Icterus (Xanthormis) xanthocephaliLi, Bonap. J. A. N. Sc. V, 

 II, Feb. 1826, 222. — In. Syn. 1828, 52. Icterus xantkocephahis, AuD. Orn. Biog. V, 

 1839, 6, pi. ccelxxxviii. Agelaius xanthoceplialus, SwAiNSON, F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831, 

 281. — Bon. List, 1838. — AuD. Syn. 1839, 140. —Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 24, pi. 

 ccxiii. — Newbekry, Zobl. Cal. and Or. Koutfi ; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, iv, 1857, 

 86. — Max. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 361. — Heerm. X, S, 52 (nest). Agelaius lonrjipcs, 

 Swain.son, Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 436. PsarocoKus persjncillaius, "LicnT." Waglep., 

 Isis, 1829, VII, 753. Icterus perspieillatus, "Licht. in Mns." Wagler, as above. 

 Xnnlhocephcihi.1 perspicUhitus, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 431. Icterus frcnatus, Licht. 

 Isis, 1843, 59. — Reinhakdt, in Kroyer's Tidskrift, IV. — Ib. Vidensk. Meddel. for 

 1853, 1854, 82 (Greenland). Xanthoccpluilus iclcrocephidus, Baird, M. B. II, Birds, 

 18 ; Birds N. Am. 1858, 531. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 267. 



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