522 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



DOLICHONYX, Swain son. 



Dolichcnyx, Swainson, Zool. Juurn. Ill, 1S27, 351. Type Einberiza oryzirora, L. 



Cii. — Bill sliort, stout, conical, little more than lialfthe liuad ; the commissure sliirhtly sinuated ; tlie culmon nearly straight. 

 Middle toe considerably longer than the tarsus (which is about as long as the head); the inner lateral toe longest, but not 

 reaching the base of the middle claw. Wings long, first quill longest. Tail fealhers acuniinately pointed at the tip, with the 

 shafts stifl'ened and rigid, as in the woodpeckers. 



The peculiar characteristic of this species is found in the rigid scansorial tail and the very long 

 middle toe, hy means of which it is enabled to grasp the vertical stems of reeds or other slender 

 plants. The color of the known species is black, varied with whitish patches on the upper 

 parts. 



In coloration, this genus bears a close relation to Calamospiza, although the other diiferences 

 are very decided. Both are black, with white patches on the wings. Dolichonyx has, in 

 addition, a white patch on the rump and a yellowish one on the nape. 



But one species is at present known to naturalists. 



Comparative measurements. 



DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS, Swain son. 



Uoblink; Reed Bird; Rice Bird. 



Emberhtt oryzirora, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 17Cfi, 311.— Gm. I, 1788, 850.— Wilson, Am. Orn. II, 1810, 48 ; pi. xii ; 



f. 1,2. 

 Passerina oryzivora, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XXV, 1817, 3. 

 Dolichonyx oryzivora, Swainson, Zool. Jour. Ill, 1^27, 351.— Ib. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 278.— Bon. List, 1838.— In. 



Conspectus, 185U, 437.— Aud. Syn. 1839, 139.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 10; pi. 211.— 



GossE, Birds Jam. 1847, 229. 

 Icterus agripennis, Bonaf. Obs. Wils. 1824, No. 87.— Add. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 283 : V, 1839, 486 ; pi. 54.— Nhtt. 



Man. I, 1832, 185. 

 Iclcrus {Emberizoiilr.s) agripennis, Bon. Syn. 1828, 53. 

 Dolichonyx agripciuiis, Rich. List, 1837. 

 Psarocolius caudacutus, Wagler, Syst. Av. 1627, 32. 



Sp. Ch. — General color of male in spring black ; the nape brownish cream color ; a patch on the side of the breast, the 

 scapulars and rump while, shading into light ash on the upper tail covers and the back below the interscapular region. The 

 outer primaries sharjily margined with yellowish v/hito; the tcrtials less abruptly ; the tail feathers margined at the tips with 

 pale brownish ash. 



Female yellowish beneath ; two stripes on the top of the head, and the upper i)artH throughout, except the back of the neck 

 and rump, and including all the wing fcalhorH generally, dark brown, all cd^cd with brownish yellow, which becomes whiter 

 near the tips of the quills. The sides sparsely streaked with dark brown, and ii similar stripe behind the eye. There is a 

 superciliary and s median band of yellow on the head. 



Length of male, 7.70 ; wing, 3.83 ; tail, 3.15. 



Hab. — Eastern United Stales to the high central plains. Seen 50 miles east of Laramie. 



