BIRDS — ICTERIDAE — SCOLECOPIIAGUS FERRUGINEUS, 



551 



SCOLEC'OPHAGUS, S w a i ii s o n . 



ScoUcopkagus, SwAinsos, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831. Typo Oriolui fcmigintus, Gmclin. 



Cii. — Rill shorter than the head, rather slender, the edges infloxed as in Qiiiscafiu, which it otherwise greatly resembles ; the 

 commissure sinuated. Ciilnien rounded, but not flattened. Tarsi longer than the middle too. Tuil even, or slightly roiindud. 



The above characteristics will readilj' distinguish the genus from its allies. The i'oriu is 

 much like tliat of Agdalus. The bill, however, is more attenuated, the culmcn curved 

 and slightly siuuated. The bend at the base of the commissure is shorter. The culmeu is 

 angular at the base posterior to the nostrils, instead of being much flattened, and does not 

 extend so far behind. 



Comparalive measurements. 



SCOLECOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS, Swainson. 



Rusty Blackbird. 



Oriolus ferrugineus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 393, No. 43. — Lath. Ind. I, 1790, 176. 



Gracultt femtginea, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 41; pi. xxi; f. 3. 



QuUcalitsferrugineus, Bon. Obs. Wils. 1824, No. 46.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 199.— Acd. Orn. Biog. 11, 1834, 315 : 



V, 1839, 483; pi. 147.— Ib. Synopsis, 1839, 146.— Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 65; pi. 222. 

 Scolccophagus femiffineus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 286. — Eon. List, 1838. 

 }} Orioltis niger, Gmelin, I, 1788, 393, No. 4, 5, (perhaps (iuiscalus.) 

 Scolecophagus niger, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 423. — Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 195. 

 ?.' Oriolusfuscus, Gmelin, Syst. I, 1788, 393, No. 44, (perhaps Molothrus.) 



Turdus hudsonius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 818 Lath. Ind. 



Tardus noveboracensis, Gmelin, I, 1788, 818. 



Turdus labradorius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 832.— Lath. Ind. I, 1790, 342, {labraJorus). 



" Pendulinus aler, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet." 



Chalcophancs virescens, Wagler, Syst. Av. (Appendix Oriolus 9). 



? Turdus No. 22 from Severn river, Forstor, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 400. 



Sp. Ch. — Bill slender ; shorter than the head ; about equal to the hind toe ; its height not quite two-fifths the total length. 

 Wing nearly an inch longer than the tail ; second quill longest ; first a little shorter tlian tlio fourth. Tail slightly graduated ; 

 Mie lateral feathers about a quarter of an inch shortest. General color black, with purple reflections ; the wings, under tail 

 coverts, and hinder part of the belly, glossed with green. Female dull brown. Lcngtii 9. .50 ; wing, 4.75 ; tail, 4.00. 



Uab — From Atlantic coast to the Missouri . 



The female of this bird is of a dull plumbeous brown beneath, blacker above, the feathers 



