264 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



Male. Throughout of a histrons velvety-lihick with a grcenigh reflection. The shoul- 

 ders and lesser coverts rich crimson ; the middle coverts brownish-yellow at the base, but 

 the exposed portion black. 



Female. Dusky, varied with paler. Length of male, 9.00 ; extent, 15.50 ; wing, 5.25 ; 

 tail, 3.80. Female, length, 8.00; extent, 13.00; wing, 4 35. Iris brown; bill and feet 

 black. 



Hah. Colorado Ri\er (?) throughout California to the Columbia. 



I did not myself see any specimens of red-wings in the Colorado Valley 

 without the yellow edging of A. 2:)]iceniccus, and Professor Baird mentions 

 this species as douhtfnlly from there. According to my observations, this 

 species inhabits chiefly the warmer interior of the State, Santa Cruz being 

 the only point on the coast where I have seen them. I found them in scat- 

 tered pairs in jNIay throughout the Coast Eauge, even to the summits, where 

 there are small marshes full of rushes, in which they build. I have been 

 unable to detect any difference between the habits and notes of this and the 

 A. 2^1iLeniccus ; and from the fact that the specimens with entirely red 

 shoulders seem limited to the middle of the State, or are rare along the coast, 

 while most of those on the coast closely resemble the Eastern bird, I should 

 think it a mere local variety, though said to occur also in IMexico. 



During summer this species has a variety of sweet and liquid notes, de- 



Shouhter patdl. 



livered from some tree near its favorite marsh, or when liovering over its 

 nest, sometimes mingled with jingling and creaking sounds, all seeming 

 adapted for tlie watery clioir of frogs and aquatic birds ^^■ith which they 

 there associate. 



A nest from the summit of the Coast Eauge is formed of grass and 

 rushes, lined with finer grass. The eggs are pale greenish-white, with large 

 curving streaks and spots of dark brown, mostly at the large end. They 

 measure 1.00 X 0.75 inch. 



From a comparison of three species of black Agclaius, belonging to West- 

 ern North America, it will be seen that the differences consist mainly in the 

 color of the middle coverts. Tliese are entirely black in giihcrnator, entirely 

 white in tricolor, and buff-yellow in iJioinicews. 



