322 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



pended from small twigs, often at the very extremity of the branches. 

 In Pennsylvania they are usually formed externally of a peculiar 

 kind of long, tough, aud flexible grass. This material is woven 

 tluough and thi'ough in a very wonderful manner, aud with as much 

 neatness and intricacy as if actually sewed with a needle. They 

 are hemispherical in shape, open at the top, and generally about 

 four inches in breadth, and three deep. The cavity has a depth and 

 a width of about two inches." 



Genus SCOLECOPHAGUS Swainsos. 



Srolecophaou.i SwAINSOS, F. Bor.-.\ui. ii, lKtl.494. Type, Oriolut ferrugiui-uf Omei.iN. 



"Gen. Chxb. Bill shorter than the head, rnther slender, the edcos Infloxed as In Quif- 

 ra/iis.whieh it otherwise greatly resembles; the eommihsure sinuatcd. Culmen rounded, 

 but not flattened. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Tail even, or slightly rounded. 



"The above characteristics will readily distinguish this genus from 

 its allies. The fonn is much like that of Agelaius. The bill, how- 

 ever, is moi'e attenuated, the culmen curved and shghtly simiated. 

 The bend at the base of the commissure is shorter. The culmen is 

 angular at the base posterior to the nostrils, instead of being much 

 flattened, and does not extend so far behind. The two North Ameri- 

 can species may be distinguished as follows : 



"8. ferrugineus. Bill slender; height at base not .4 the total length. Color of male 

 black, with faint purple reflection over whole body; wings, tail, and abdomen glossed 

 slightly with green, .\utumnal specimens with feathers l>roadly edged with eastaneous 

 rusty. Female brownish dusky-slate, without gloss; no trace of light superciliary stripe. 



"8. oyanooephaltis. Bill stout; height at base nearly .5 the totjil length. Color black, 

 with green rellectidn over whole body. Head only glossed with purple. Autumnal speci- 

 mens, feathers edged very indistinctly with umber-brown. Feiitale dusky brown, with a 

 soft gloss; a decided light superciliary stripe." [Hist. .V. Am. Ji.) 



Scolecopliagus carolinus (Miill.) 



BUSTY BLACKBIRD. 

 Popular synonym. Rusty Grnokle. 

 Tardus carolinus MuLI.. Syst. Nat. Suppl. 1<7("., 146. 



Srnlecophagus carolinus HlDOW. Troe. U. S.Nat. Mus. 1885,S,W. 

 (Jriolua ferrugiueus Gmel. S. N. 1,1788,393. 

 (Iracula ferruginea Wu.s. Am. Orn. ill. 1811, 41. pi. 21. fig. 3. 

 Qiiiscalus ferrugiueus nr.MfM.—UvTT. Man. i, 1832, 199.— .\t'D. Orn. Biog. 11.1834. :t2.'i: 



V. 1839, 483, pi. 147; Synop. 1839, 14«; B. Am. iv, 65, pi. 222. 

 Scolecopliagus ferrugiueus 8w. & Rich. F. B.-A. ii, ISil, 28<).— IJaird. B. N. Am. 1858, 

 551 : Cat, N. Am. B. 1859, No. 417.-Coi'ES. Ki'y, 1872, 159; 2d ed. 1884. 411 : Chock List, 

 1874. No. 221; 2d ed. 1882. No. 331; B. N. W.1874, 198.-B. B. & B. Hist. N. Am. B. 11,1874, 

 203, pi. 35, flg. 4.— RiDOW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881. No. 2r.t. 



Had. Eastern and northern North America, breeding from Maine to Labrador and 

 .Maska, and wintering in the eastern United States, chiefly south of 38°, 



