AGEL^EUS PHGENICEUS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 187 



Hab.— The typical form througbont temperate North America, and south to Central 

 America. Breeds in suitable idaces from Texas to the Saskatchewan, and along the 

 ■whole Atlantic coast. Winters from about 35-^ southward. Said to have occurred in 

 England. Var. asshniUs in Cuba. Var. guheriiator along the Pacific coast, from British 

 Columbia into Mexico. Var. tricolor resident in California. 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition.— Albl , Big Nemaha; 5325-2G, Medicine Creek ; 9332, 

 9331, 9339. 9333, 9330, along the Platte. 



Later Expeditions. — 6105H-89, Green River ; 61725-56, Ogden, Utah. 



Wc have been furnished by Mr. Allen with elaborate tables of measurements, show- 

 ing the sexual and individual diflerences in size and proportions of specimens from the 

 same locality, as well as tbe variation in the same respects, according to geographical 

 distribution. The difference in size consists in the inferiority of southern biriis, ac- 

 cording to a well understood law ; it is coujded, as usual, also, with attenuation of the 

 bill. In color, southern birds differ in the more intense lustre of the black aud brighter 

 red. Following are the dimensions ; the numbers in parentheses are the several 

 averages. Massachusetts males : Length, 8.40 to 9.85 (9.16) ; extent, 13.95 to 15.35 

 (14.71); wing, 4.43 to .5.00 (4.69); tail, 3.12 to 3.90 (3.63); bill, 0.75 to 0.91 (0.88). 

 Massachusetts females: Length, 7.35 to 8.55 (7.53); extent, 11.25 to 13.55 (12.24); 

 wing, 3.63 to 4.26(3.86); tail, 2.65 to 3.15(2.93); bill, 0.70 to 0.82 (0.75). Southern 

 males: Length, 8.25 to 9.55 (9.02); extent, 13.60 to 14.90 (14.41); wing, 4.34 to 4.80 

 (4.62); tail, 3.35 to 3.90 (3.61); bill, 0.85 to 1.00 (0.91). Southern females: Length, 

 7..50 to 8.00 (7.73) ; extent, 11.85 to 12.85 (12.44) ; wing, 3.63 to 3.90 (3.83) ; tail, 2.75 to 

 3.20 (2.99). Calitbrnian specimens are correspondent. Independent of all extrinsic 

 influences, the normal inherent variation in dimensions amounts to fifteen per cent. 



The so-called species, A. gnhernalor, has not the slightest claim to specific rank — in 

 fact it can hardly be rated as a fair variety. Of the same size and shape as ordinary 

 phfcniceus, with the same scarlet carpus, it only ditiers, in extreme cases, in not having 

 this red bordered with tawny. Tbis is produced by the restriction of the brownish- 

 yellow of the middle wing-coverts (in phwniccus occupying the whole length of these 

 feathers) to the basal portion of the feathers, their projecting ends being black, and so 

 failing to produce a tawny bordering of the red. But every imaginable stage is a mat- 

 ter of observation in different specimens, from one extreme to the other ; and in some 

 cases of phoaniceHs most of the greater coverts ai-e likewise tawny, producing a 

 brow!]ish-yellow patch, nearly as large as the scarlet one itself. 



Var. tricolor is better marked, in its smaller size and attenuated bill (thus agreeing, 

 however, with Floridan phwiiiceus), dark blood-red wing-patch, and pure white border. 

 The better distinction in this case corresponds to tbe geographical restriction and com- 

 parative isolation of this local race. That it is no more, however, than a variety, 

 seems fairly inferable; the difference in the shade of red is no greater than that 

 observable in .specimens oi phanicev.s proper, while the bordering of the red in the 

 latter is .sometimes nearly pure white. 



Tlie Ked-shouldered ]Marsli Blackbird is of commou occurrence iu all 

 suilublc places tbroiijiliout the Missouri region; but from its nature it 

 is somewhat localized, being found only in wooded and watered por- 

 tions, except while journeying; and I am not aware that it ever gathers 

 in such vast numbers as throng the more congenial marshy tracts of 

 the Eastern States. Some modification in habits is the necessary result 

 of topographical as well as climatic changes, which birds exi)erience 

 in their oidinarily extensive dispersion. In Arizona, for instance, I 

 found Ifedwings common in the i)ine-woods, miles away from any water, 

 excepting a tiny mountain stream that afforded no special conveniences 

 for them. 



The Tricolor variety is extremely abundant and resident in the fertile 

 portions of Southern (Jalifornia. It very rarely cros.ses the intermediate 

 desert to the Colorado Jiiver; this arid tract forming a barrier to the 

 eastward i)rogress of many species, of great etiicacy in distingui.shing 

 the littoral fauna from that of the Colorado Valley. One who has 

 traveled this region will not be surprised that birds with any fan<-y for 

 green, watery i)laces, decline the same journey. At Wilmington and 

 Drumm Jiarracks 1 found the Tricolors Hocking in vast nund)ers, iu 

 November. They thronged the streets of the town, and covered the 

 militaiy i)arade-ground ; alone, so far as their congeiieis were concerned, 

 but on intimate a.ssociation witli hundreds of llrewer's lUackbirds. lloth 

 species were almost as tame as poultry, anil the boys used to stone them, 



