BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 243 



Coast district of Sononi. northwestern Mexico (Alamos, Camoa, 

 Guaymas, etc.). 



Quiscalus major (not of Vieillot) Gambel, Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, i, 

 1847, 47 (Gulf of California, occasionally to "Upper California"); Proc. 

 Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1847, 203 (do.). 



Quiscalus palusiris (not Scaphidurus palusiris Swainson) Ridgway, Proc. U. S. 

 Nat. Mus., iii, 1880, 218 (Gulf of California) ; Noni. N. Am. Birds, 1881, no." 

 276, part— Belding, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vi, 1883, 343 (Guaymas, Sonora). 



Scaphidurus major nelsoni Ridgavay Proc. Wash. Acad. Sci., iii, Apr. 15 1901 

 151, 152 (Alamos, Sonora, n. w. Mexico; coll. U. S. Nat. Mus.). 



MEGAQUISCALUS TENUIROSTRIS (Swainson). 

 SIENDER-BILLED GRACKLE. 



Much smaller than any of the forms of M. majorand with bill much 

 more slender. 



Adult 7nale.~G[oHsy purplish black, much as in M. inajorvtacrounis, 

 but the ^loss duller and more reddish violet on head, neck, and breast- 

 length (skins), about 330.2-368.3; wing, 169.7-170.2 (169.9); tail, 177.8- 

 189.2 (183.4); exposed culmen, 34.3; depth of bill at base, 10.2;'tarsus 

 45.7; middle toe, 30.5.^ ' 



Adult fcwu(le.~Fi\eum, hindneck, and back brown (between burnt 

 umber and prouts brown), darker on posterior portion of back and 

 scapulars; rump })lackish brown; wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail 

 brownish l)lack; lores dusky brown; auricular region similar in color 

 to pileum, and separated from the latter by a rather distinct super- 

 ciliary stripe of wood brown or ciimamon-buffy; under parts (except 

 flanks, anal region, and under tail-coverts) tawny brown or cinnamon, 

 paler and more buffy on throat and abdomen, still paler on chin; flanks,' 

 anal region, and under tail-coverts dusky brown; length (skins), 251.5-^ 

 309.9 (279.9); wing, 128.3-134.6 (131.8); tail, 132.1-135.1 (133.6); 

 exposed culmen, 28.5-30.5 (29.5); depth of bill at base, 8.9-9.7 (9.1)- 

 tarsus, 37.6-38.1 (37.8); middle toe, 25.4-26.7 (26.2).^ ' 



Central Mexico (marshes near the City of Mexico). 



(?) Scaphidurns p(dmtris Swainson, Philos. Mag., new ser., i, 1827 436 (near 

 City of Mexico). ' ' > v 



{'i) Sclaphidums'] palusiris Bonaparte, Consp. Av., i, 1850, 426 (Mexico). 



Quiscalus tenuiroslris Swainson, Anim. in Menag., 1838, 299, fig. 51, b. c." (near 

 City of Mexico).— Cassin, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 186(3, 4n (monogr ) — 

 Sclater, Ibis, 1884, 157, pi. 5 (monogr.); Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xi, 1886, 

 397.— Salvin and Godman, Biol. Centr.-Am., Aves, i, 1887, 485. 



Qluiscalus'] tenuirostris Bonaparte, Consp. Av., i, 1850, 424 (Mexico).— Baird 

 Brewer, and Ridgway, Hist. N. Am. Birds, ii, 1874, 214 — Ridgw\y Man' 

 N. Am. Birds, 1887, 381. - , . 



iQuiscalus'] tenatrosi/'is Sclater and Salvin, Nom. Av. Neotr., 1873 38. 



Scaphidurus tevuirostris Ridgway, Proc. Wash. Ac. Sci., iii, Apr. 15^ 1901, 152. 



1 Measurements from specimens in Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., and as given by Sclater 

 in Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xi, p. 397. 



M?a'^''o?^,"™^'''= «"« 'n U. S. Nat. Mus. collection, two in collection of Acad. 

 JNat. bci. Phila., the latter measured by Mr. Witmer Stone. 



