ICTEEID^— THE AMERICAN ORIOLES. 323 



"Sp. Chak. 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 than the fourth. Tail slightly graduated; the 

 lateral feathers about a quarter of an inch shortest. General color black, with purple 

 reflections; the wings, under tail-eoverts, and hinder part of the belly, glossed with 

 green. In autumn the feathers largely edged with ferruginous or brownish, so as to 

 change the appearance entirely. Spring female dull, opaque plumbeous or ashy black; 

 the wings and tail sometimes with a green lustre. Young like autumnal birds. Length 

 of male, 9,50; wing, 4.75; tail, 4.00. Female smaller," [Hist. N. Am. B.) 



It is only during the colder months that this blackbird makes its 

 appearance in Illinois. Perhaps the greater number pass beyond 

 the limits of our State in midwinter, but the Avi-iter has seen small 

 flocks in December and January in the bottom lauds near Mount 

 Carmel. In early spring they become quite numerous in swampy 

 forests, congregating mostly about the borders of ponds or the 

 banks of streams. Their peculiar squeaking but not unmusical 

 song, which may be heard just before their departure for the North, 

 somewhat resembles that of the Bronzed Grackle {Qiiiscalus ceneus) 

 but is much less harsh and uttered in a higher key. Occasionally, 

 especially during cold weather, small flocks frequent the barn-yards, 

 for the purpose of gathering the grain wliich has become scattered 

 about during the feeding of the stock. 



Scolecophagus cyanocephalus (Wagl.) 



BKEWEK'S BLACKBIRD. 

 Popular synonyms. Violet-headed or Blue-headed Blackbird; Corral Bird. 



Fsarocolius cynoceplialus Wagl. Isis, 1829, 758, 

 Scolecophagus cj/anocephalus Cab. 1851.— Baied. B. N. Am. 1858, 552; Cat. N. Am. B. 

 1859, No. 332.— CouES, Key, 1872, 160; 2d ed. 1884. 411; Check List, 1874, No. 222; 2d ed. 

 1882. No. 332; B, N. W. 199.— B. B. & E. Hist. N, Am. B. ii, 1874, 206, pi, 35, flg. 3. 

 -KiDGW. Nom. N.Am. B.1881,No. 274, 

 Quiscalus hreweri AuD. B. Am. vili. 1843, 345, pi. 492. 

 Hab. Western United States, eastern Minnesota, eastern Kansas, and, occasionally, 

 the states along the eastern side of the Mississippi, breeding abundantly as far to the 

 northeast as the vicinity of Pembina, on the Bed River of the North. Winters from 40°, 

 or perhaps further north, south into Mexico, 



"Sp. Chak. Bill stout, quiscaline, the commissure scarcely sinuated; shorter than 

 the head and the hind toe; the height half the length of culmen. Wing nearly an inch 

 longer than the tail; the second quill longest; the first about equal to the third. Tail 

 rounded and moderately graduated; the lateral feathers about .35 of an inch shorter. 

 General color of male black, with lustrous green reflections everywhere except on the 

 head and neck, which are glossed with purplish violet. Female much duller, of a light 

 brownish anteriorly ; a very faint superciliary stripe. Length about 10 inches ; wing, 5.30 ; 

 tail, 4.40. 



"Autumnal specimens do not exhibit the broad rusty edges of 

 feathers seen in iS'. ferrugineus. 



