310 Dinns of Illinois. 



beinn without notch; the cuhnfii running back farther on the fore- 

 liead, tlie nostrils being situated fully one third or more of the total 

 length from its posterior extremity. The entire absence of notch 

 in the bill and of bristles along "the rictus are strong features. The 

 nostrils are perfectly free from any overhanging feathws or bristles. 

 The pointed wings, with the first quill longest, or nearly equal to 

 second, and the tail witli its broad rounded feathers, shorter than 

 the wings, are additidiial IVatures to bi- s|)i'cial]y noted. ^^iKt. X. 

 Am. B.) 



Molothrus ater (Bodd.) 



COWBIRD. 



Popular synonyms. Cow Blackbird: ('■.\v-i"ii Buutlnfc'; I.azy Binl iConneetiout); Clod- 

 hoppor. 



Orioliis alir BoDD. Tabl. P. E. 17SI, .ST. 



Moltitlmis ater Gray. 1S70.— RidRw. Noiu. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 258.— t'0UE8.2d Chei'k List. 



No. SIS. 

 Frinoilla pecoris Ghel. S. N. i. 17SS.910 tlemale). 

 Kinheriza pecori.i WiLs. Aui. Orii.ii.l«l«.I45.iil. 18, I1k». I.2.S. 

 Icterus pecoris Bp. Isi4.— NUTT. Miui. 1. IXii. 178.— AUD. Orii. Biog. 1,1831,493: v, 18»9.2:«, 



400. pis. 99, 42-1. 

 Molothrus peioris Sw. & Rich. F. B. .K. ii. 1831.277.— Aur>. Syiiop. Ist9. I:t9: B. Am. Iv. 



1842. 16. pi. 212.-Bairi>. B.N. Am. 18,W. 524: Ciit. N. Am. B. 18.VJ. So. 4ihi.-Coueh. 



Koy. 1872, IM: C'hc.'k List 1874, No, 211: B, N. W. 1874. 180.-B. B. & 11. Hist. X. Am. 



B. Ii. 1874.154. pi. .12. n^s. 6,7. 

 Fringilla auihiQua Nt'TT. Man. i. 1832,484 (— young). 



Hab. Tcmpcratr North .\mi'rii'a (pxcopt Pneilli' Coast?), north to about 68°; breeds 

 rhiedy north of iiS'', ^iMil winters mainly south of the same parallel, down to southern 

 border of the United States. 



"Sp. Char. Seconil iiuill loncest: first scarcely shorter. Tail nearly even, or very 

 slightly rounded. Male with the head, neek, and anterior half of the breast light ehoeo- 

 lato brown, rather lighter above : rest of body lustrous blaek. with a violet-purple gloss 

 next to the brown. of steel-blue on the back, and of green elsewhere. Female light oliva- 

 eeous brown all over, lighter on the head and beneath. Bill and feet blaek. Length. 8 

 inches: wing, 4.42; tail. 3.40. 



"The young loird of the year is brown above, brownish white be- 

 neath : the throat immaculate. A maxillary stripe and obscure 

 streaks tliickly crowded across the whole breast and sides. There is 

 a faint indication of a paler superciliary stripe. The feathers of the 

 upper parts are all margined with paler. There are also indications 

 of light bands on the wings. These markings are all obscure, but 

 perfectly appreciable, and their existence iu adult birds of any species 

 may be considered as embryonic, and showing an inferiority in de- 

 gree to the species with the under parts perfectly plain." {HiHt. .V. 

 Am. B.) 



