ICTERID.E — THE ORIOLES — AGELAIUS. 



261 



Gexus AGELAIUS, Vieillot. 



Af/elaius, Vieillot, Analyse, 181G. (Type, Orioliis pJucniceus, L.) 



Gkx. CnAR. First quill shorter than sccoiwi ; claws short ; the outer lateral scarcely 

 reaching the base of the nii<ldlc. Culinen depressed at base, parting the frontal feathers ; 

 length ecjual to that of the head, shorter than tarsus. Both mandibles of equal thickness 

 and acute at tip, the edges much curved, the culmen, gonys, and coiuuiissui'e nearly 



A. fhaniceus. 



straight or slightly sinuated ; the length of bill about twice its height. Tail moderate, 

 rounded, or very slightly graduated. Wings pointed, reaching to end of lower tail coverts. 

 Colors black, with red shoulders in North American species. 



Agelaius phceniceus, Lixn.eus. 

 THE SWAMP BLACKBIRD ; THE RED-WING BLACKBIRD. 



Oriuhis phdvicms. LiXN.Tius, Syst. Nat. I. 1766, 161. — Aijilaiiis jihrcnicnts, "Vieillot, An- 

 alyse, 1816." — Audubon, Birds Amcr. IV. 1842, .31; pi. 216. — Baiud, P. I{. Rc|). 

 IX. Birds, ^26. — Kenxerlt, X. iv. 30. — Cooi-er and Sucklev, XII. iii. Zoul. of \V. 

 T. 207. — CouES, Pr. A. N. S. 1866, 90. 



Stimtus pncdatorins, Wilson, Am. Orn. IV. 1811,30; pi. xx.x. 



.Sp. Char. Tail much rounded ; the lateral feathers about half an inch shorter. Fourth 

 quill longest ; first about as long as the fifth. Bill large, stout ; half as high or more than 

 half as high as long. 



Male. General color unitbrm lustrous velvet-black, with a greenish reflection. Shoul- 



