THE BREWER BLACKBIRD. 45 



rence in Wasliingtoii, and it seems probable that its presence has followed 

 tardily upon the introduction of cattle. Bendire was the tirst to report it 

 from this State, having taken an egg near Palouse Falls on June 18, 1878, 

 fr(jm a nest of the Slate-colored Sparrow (Passerclla iliaca schistacea). 



Its presence among us is, doubtless, often overlooked because of the 

 superficial resemblance which it bears in note and appearance to Brewer's 

 Blackbird (Buplmgiis cyaiiitccf^haliis). The note of the former w dis- 

 tinctive, — a shrill, hissing squeak in two tones with an interval of a descending- 

 third, uttered with great effort and apparent nausea — honestly, a disgusting 

 sound. 



No. 16. 



BREWER'S BLACKBIRD. 



A. O. U. Xo. 510. Euphagus cyanocephalus (^^'agler). 



Description. — Adult male: Glossy black with steel bhie and violet reflec- 

 tions on head, with fainter greenish or bronzy reflections elsewhere ; bill and feet 

 black : iris pale lemon yellow or light cream. Adult female: Head and neck all 

 around deep brownish gray with violet reflections ; underparts brownish slate to 

 blackish with faint greenish iridescence ; u]iperparts blackish, or outright black 

 on wings and tail, which are glossed with bluish-green : bill and feet as in male, 

 but iris brown. Immature males iu first zvintcr plumage resemble adults but have 

 some edging of pale grayish brown. Length of adult males: 10.00 (254) ; wing 

 5.00 (128); tail 3.90 (99): bill .89 (22.6); tarsus 1.27 (32.3). Adult female: 

 length 9.25 (235); wing 4.ffK) (117): tail 3.50 (89) bill .79 (20): tarsus 1.20 

 (30-5)- 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size ; pure black coloration and whitish eye of 

 male. Larger than Cowbird (Molothrus aterj with which alone it is likely to 

 be confused. 



Nesting. — A^est: placed at moderate height in bush clump or thicket, less 

 frequently on ground at base of bush, more rarely in cranny of cliff or cavity 

 of decayed tree-trunk, a sturdy, tidy structure of interlaced grasses, strengthened 

 by a matrix of mud or dried cow-dung and carefuUv lined with coiled rootlets or 

 horsehair. Nests in straggling colonies. Eggs: 4-7, usually 5; or 6, presenting two 

 divergent types of coloration with endless variations and intermediate phases. 

 Light type: ground color light gray or greenish gray, spotted and blotched with 

 brown of varying shades, walnut, russet, and sepia. (In some examples there is 

 purplish brown scrawling, which suggests the Redwing type. One egg in the 

 writer's collection is indistinguishable from that of a Cowbird, save for size.) 

 Dark type: ground color completely obscured by overlay of fine brown dots 

 resulting in nearly uniform shade of mummy brown or Vandyke brown. Av. size 

 1.03 X .72 {26.2 X 18.3). Season: April 20-May 10; one or two broods. 



General Range. — Western North America from the plains to the Pacific, 

 and from the Saskatchewan region south to the highlands of Mexico to Oaxaca. 



