BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 291 



Distribution. — From the Ijower Colorado Valley in southern California 

 and Arizona south to Tepic, western Mexico. 



At Phoenix, Arizona, the red-wings have been seen eating a tree- 

 worm which was a pest at the time. 



498d. A. p. fortis Bidgw. Thick-billed Ked-wi.ng. 



Like A. phaniceus, *' but decidedly larger, with bill relatively much 

 shorter and thicker ; adult females, adult male in winter, and immature 

 males similar in coloration to the same of ^1. p. sonoriensis, but distin- 

 g-uished by very different measurements." (Ridgwav.) Male : length 

 (skins) 8.00-9.50, wing- 4.80-5.21. tail 0.48-4.15, bill .78-1.04. depth of bill 

 at base .50-.59. Female : length (skins) 0.80-7.08, wing- 4.00-4.30, tail 

 2.80-o.'27, bill .07-.8:J. depth of bill at base .43-.50. 



Distribution. — Central North America, in migrations from Manitoba 

 south to Illinois. Indian Territory, and western Texas, westward to and 

 including- the Rocky Mountains, and south to Arizona and Cliihuahua. 



498e. A. p. neutralis Bidgw. San Diego Red-ming. 



"Similar to A. p. sonoriensis, hut smaller, adult female much darker, 

 with streaks less strongly contrasted above, those on under parts rather 

 broader and grayer, the upper parts with little if any rusty, even in win- 

 ter." (Ridg-way.) Male: length (skins) 7.S5-1I.00, wing- 4.00-5.00. tail 

 8.35-3.85, bill .85-.l)8. Female: leng-th (skins) 0.00-7.08, wing- 3.80-4.10, 

 tail 2.64-3.08, bill .73-.83. 



Distribution. — Great Basin district of United States, southward to 

 southern California and northern Lower California. 



498f. A- p. caurinus Bidgw. Northwestekx Red-wing. 



Similar to .1. pfto ulceus, "but wings and bill longer, the latter more 

 slender ; adult male with buff of middle wing- coverts deeper, deep ochra- 

 ceous-buff or ochraceous in winter ; adult females more heavily streaked 

 with black beneath, and, in winter plumage, with upper parts much more 

 conspicuouslv marked with rustv." (Ridgwav). Male : length (skin.'^) 

 8.00-0.10. wing- 4.57-5.10. tail 3.3'.)-3.83, bill '.00-1.01. Female: length 

 (skins) 0.80-7.S0, wing- 3.8.5-4.22, tail 2.80-3.27, bill .77-80. 



Distribution. — Northwest coast district from British Columbia south 

 through western Washington and Oregon to northern California. 



499. Agelaius gubernator californicus Nelson. Brulokkd 



Bl.VCKP.IIU). 



Adult male. — Black, shoulder patrh nd. the middk' wing- coverts having 

 their butfy or brownish bases conceah'd by black tips, .[dult female in 

 breeding plumage: nearly uniform blackish brown, throat butfy and 

 streaked. Adidt female in winter : feathers edged with rusty. Young: 

 corresponding- to phases of the red-wing-. Male: length (skins) 7.80-8.00. 

 wingr 4.00-5.00, tail 3. 20-3. 7S, bill .7S-.01. Female: leng-th (skins) 0.00- 

 7.50, wing- 3.07-4.2.1, tail 2.0S-3.(I2. bill .73-.7S. 



Distribution. — Wi'stcrn Oregon and northern and central coast district 

 of Californi:i. 



Nest. — In or near marshes, on tufts of marsh gra.ss or weeds, 1 to 3 

 feet above the water ; made of gra.sses and strips of soft bark, usually 

 lined with g-r{i.s.s-tops and .sometimes horsehair. Kggs : usually 2 to 4, 

 pale bluisli green, generally spotted, marbled, .-md streaked, mostly about 

 the laig-er eml, with brown, black, and pnr])le. 



