rROCEKDIMiS OF Tin. NATIONAL MVSEUM. 



675 



58. ICTERUS XANTHORNUS (Gmelin). 

 YELLOW OKIOLK. 



Native name "pespes." 



Abundant in all parts of the island, except the heavy forest. Their 

 lonji' pendent nests were usually placed at the extremity of a waving 

 leaf of a cocoa i)aliii. 



[The Margaritan si)eciiiieiis of Icterus .vanthorniis dilici' considerably 

 in size from continental birds. There ap])ears to be no difference in 

 color, but the dimensions (except length of bill) are decidedly beyond 

 the limit found in both the continental form and the Curacao subsiie- 

 cies. The length of bill in the live vSpecimens collected is intermediate 

 between .rtotflionius and curasoi'iisls.! but nearer the former. The wing 

 and tail measurements of the two adult males from INlargarita, two 

 males from Curacao, and several from various ])arts of its continental 

 range, are given below: 



Measurements of Ivteriis xanihorniis. 



Measurements of Icterus xanihornus ctirasoeusis. 



Sex. 



Locality. 



Male adult. 

 Do 



Curacao 

 do.. 



Wing. 



Inches. 

 3.65 

 3.59 



Tail. 



Inches. 

 3.37 

 3.41 



C. W. K.] 



59. QUISCALUS INSULARIS, new species. 

 MARGARITAN GRACKLE. 



Native name, "angoleta." 



Very abundant, especially near Porlamar, Avhere they entered the 

 yards in rear of the houses and even ventured upon our dining table in 

 search of crumbs. At certain hours of the day they assembled in tiocks 

 of seveial hundred individuals and frecpiented heaps of partly decayed 

 seaweed tossed upon the beaches. 



[T?/jje>.— Male adult, No. 151733, U.S.N.M.; Margarita, July .'., ISO-") 

 Wirt liobinson: collector's No. 407. Similar to Q. luf/uhris, but larger 

 no difterence in color in the male. Wing, 4.72: tail, 3.0S: tarsus, 1.31 

 exposed culmen, 1.13 inches. '^Irides pale yellow." 



