566 



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



varied reflections of bronze, golden, green, copper, and purple, the latter most conspicuous on the tail, the tail coverts, and 

 wings. The edges of primaries and of tail greenish. Female similar, but smaller and duller, with, perhaps, more green on the 

 head. 



Length, 13 inches ; wings, G ; tail, 5.80; bill above, 1.25. 



Hab. — From Atlantic to llie High Central Plains. 



In No. 2104, as in other Pennsylvania specimens, there is a strong shade of violet just above 

 the steel blue on the feathers of the neck. Specimens from the west have a more brassy shade 

 on the blue of the neck, and the back is of a nearly uniform shade of greenish bronze. These 

 differences appear to be nearly constant with the two localities. One specimen from Carlisle 

 has the steel blue on the head replaced, in a great measure, by purple and violet, owing to the 

 extension of this latter color to the tips of the feathers. It is probably to a specimen of this 

 variety that Swainson ap2)lied the name of Quiscalus purpuratus. 



In a series of about thirty specimens there are two males, the bills of which are much shorter 

 than in the majority, measuring barely over an inch, and shorter than the head, (Nos. 6558, 

 4763.) I find a somewhat similar condition in a specimen from Carlisle, (833,) and as the 

 difference is unaccompanied by any other tangible character, I see no ground for specific 

 distinction. 



The young of the year are throughout of a dull brown. 



List of specimens. 



QUISCALUS BARITUS, Vieillot. 



Gracula harila, Linn» Syst. Nat. I, 17GC, 165, (based on Icterus nigcr, Hr ) — Gmklin, I, 1788, 39G. — Lath. Ind. I, 



1790, 191. 

 Q,uiscttliis baritus, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. XXVIII, 1819, 487.— D'Onn. Dc la Sagra Cuba, Avos, 95. 

 Chalcophanea baritus, WAr.LEn, Systenia Avium, IH27, Gracula Expos. No. 4. — Cabanis, Miia. Hoin. 1851, 197. 

 ? Quiscalus crassirostris, Swainson, Anim. in Mciiag. 1838, ,3.55. — Gossi-., Rirds Jamaica, 1847, 217. 



Sr. Cii. — Bill about three times as long as high, much longer tlyin the head or the tarsus ; the commissure scarcely sinuated ; 

 ^ho tip lengthened and dccurvcd. Tail about as long as the wing, considerably graduated ; the lateral fcalhcrs about .85 of an 

 inch shorter. The second quill longest ; first shorter than the fourth. The head steel blue, passing on tho neck into decided 

 purplish ; the body, wings, and tail bronze green, with a purplish violet shade on the tcrtials and rump. 



Length, 10. GO; wing, 5 ; tail, 5; bill above, 1.40; tarsus, 1.40. 



JJab. — Florida coast and West Indies. 



