178 FEMALE COMMON CROW BLACKBIRD. 



cuneiform, and greatly concave, exhibiting a singular boat-shaped 

 appearance, as in the preceding species, and even more remarkably so, 

 according to Mr. Ord, which induced him to change the name. 



We shall not attempt to make any additions to the almost complete, 

 and very excellent history of this species, given by Wilson : but as the 

 four species of Quis^alus are liable to be confounded, we shall proceed 

 to give a few comparative observations, that the student may be enabled 

 to distinguish them from each other. 



Amongst other remarkable traits, the Quiscalus ferriigineus is at 

 once known in all its various states, by its even tail, and comparatively 

 smaller bill, which somewhat resembles that of a Thrush. In addition 

 to the characters drawn from its dimensions, the Quiscalus versicolor 

 can always be distinguished from its congeners, by the slight difference 

 in size and color, between the sexes ; while, in the other species, the 

 males and females are remarkably dissimilar : the mouth of this species 

 is, moreover, armed with a prominent osseous carina, a quarter of an 

 inch long, which, in the others, is much smaller. That the Quiscalus 

 major, and Quiscalus baritus, should have been confounded together, 

 is not a little surprising, as the former is sixteen inches long, the tail 

 being eight inches, and extending five inches beyond the tip of the 

 wings ; whilst the latter is only ten inches, the tail much less cuneiform, 

 four inches and a half long, and extending but two inches beyond the 

 tip of the wings ; the osseous carina is similar in these two species, 

 and the markings of the females are much alike. From this statement, 

 it is apparent, that the females of the largest and smallest Crow Black- 

 birds correspond in the disposition of their colors ; a parity that does 

 not exist in the intermediate species. In comparative size, however, they 

 differ considerably : the female of the baritus, though smaller, as we 

 have already stated, is, in proportion to its mate, considerably larger 

 than that of the other, being only half an inch, whilst the female of 

 the major is nearly four inches, smaller. 



The individual represented in the annexed plate, is a remarkably fine 

 one, in the most perfect state of plumage. It therefore more strongly 

 resembles the male than is usual with its sex, which are generally much 

 less brilliant in coloring, and more sooty-brown. This bird was obtained 

 at Great Egg Harbor on the twenty-first of May, and was selected as 

 the best female of several pairs, assembled to breed at one of the 

 identical Fish-Hawks nests, in the interstices of which Wilson mentions 

 having seen them building. One of their nests contained three eggs, 

 and the species had not ceased to lay. 



These birds, as we have had occasion personally to observe, like most 

 of the feathered tribes, are subject to become either wholly or partially 

 albinos. From this circumstance, numerous errors have been introduced 

 in the pages of ornithological works. 



