BIKDS — ICTEIUDAE — AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS. 527 



from the nostrils and parallel with the upper outline, as well as at the base of the lower jaw 

 nearly parallel with the gonys. The greatest depth of the hill, measured at the base of, and 

 perpendicular to the lower outline, is just half the length of the culmen, which is about as long 

 as tho skull. The third and fourth quills are longest ; the first about ecjual to the fifth. The 

 tail is considerably rounded, the lateral ones about .30 to .50 of an inch shorter. The tarsus is 

 about equal to the middle toe. 



The female differs greatly in appearance. Tlie prevailing color above is brownish black, all 

 the feathers margined with reddish brown ; some of those on the back with brownish yellow, 

 which on the median and greater wing coverts forms two bands. Tlic under parts are dull 

 whitish, each feather broadly streaked centrally with dark brown ; the chin and throat 

 yellowish and but little streaked. There is a distinct whitish superciliary streak alongside the 

 head tinged anteriorly with brownish yellow, and another less distinct in the median line of the 

 crown. There is usually no indication of any red on the wing, but in one specimen, (2174,) 

 marked barren female, the plumage generally is darker and ai)proxiraating to that of the male; 

 the shoulders red, streaked with black ; the light markings about the head tinged with rose 

 color. The immature males exhibit every possible condition of coloration between that of the 

 old male and of the female. 



There is some variation in the shade of red on the shoulders, which is sometimes of the color 

 of arterial blood or bright crimson. It never, however, has the haematitic tint of the red in 

 A. tricolor. The middle coverts are sometimes uniform brownish yellow to the very tips ; 

 sometimes some of these middle coverts arc tipped at the end with black, but these black tips 

 are usually of slight extent. 



There is some variation in the size and proportions of the bill. The most striking is in a 

 series of three from the lied River settlement, decidedly larger than more southern ones, (wing, 

 5.15 ; tail, 4.40.) The bill is about as long as that of Pennsylvania specimens, but much 

 stouter, the thickness at the base being considerably more than half the length of the culmen. 

 One specimen from San Elizario, Texas, has the bill of much the same size and proportions. 



A specimen (4050) from Saltillo has the lobe in the commissure larger, and the terminal 

 portion of the commissure much emarginated. 



