ICTERID.E — THE ORIOLES — AGELAIUS. 



265 



Agelaius tricolor, Nuttall. 



THE KED AND WHITE-SHOULDEKED BLACKBIED. 



Icterus tricolor, " Nl'ttall," AcDL-nox, Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 1 ; pi. 388. — Ndttall, Man. 

 I. ad ed. 1840, 186. — Ai/eluiim tricolor, Box.ap.iute, List, 1838. — Audubon, Syn. 1839, 

 141. In. Biids Amcr. IV. 1842, 27; pi. 214. — Neweekry, P. R. Rep. VI. iv. 86. 

 — Baiud, p. R. Rup. IX. Birds, 530. — Heeemaxn, X. vi. 53. 



Sp. Char. Tail nearly even. Second and third quills longest; first a little shorter 

 than the fourth. Bill slenderer, not half as high as long. 



il/((/e. General color unitijrm lustrous velvet black, with a decided greenish reflection. 



Male. 



Shoulders and lesser wing coverts brownish-red, of much tin; color of venous l)lood ; the 

 median coverts of a well-defined and nearl}- pure white, with sometimes a brownish tinge. 

 Female. Dark brown, variegated with dark gi-ayish-ash. Xo median stripe on the 



crown, nor any maxillary one, and scarcely a superciliary. Length, 9.50 ; extent, 15.25 ; 

 wing, 5.25; tail, 3.90. Female, length 7.75; extent, 13.00; wing, 4.25. Iris brown; 

 bill and feet black. 



Hab. Colorado River ; throughout California. Oregon. 

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