326 Binns of iLLrsois. 



The fullowiuR comparative iliagiioses, wliich include also iioth 

 forms of the eastern species, show, briefly, tlie diflferential character 

 of Q. (cncHS and Q. qulxciila. It should be especially noted tiiat tjie 

 color of the head and neck is of no importance iihtilvnr as a diapios- 

 tic character, but that the coloration of the back and lower parts is 

 the decisive test. 



I. Q. aeneui. Entire body, above and below, uniform and unraryini; broflsir oilve, or 

 olivin'fuug bronze. Wings eriulually ehndincc Into bronzy reddish purple, the 

 primaries and tnil more purplish violet. Head, neek, and JUKUlum rieh metnllie 

 brassy sreen. sti-el-blue. violet, or jiurple. nhrauf rei-j/ ahriiptli/ and nhariilu </<•- 

 fintfil agaiiint thf totatly difffi-i-nt rnJor of the hark and hrfant. 

 '2. Q. qoiioola. Plumage of the body varying from dark dull metallic slate-green to 

 violet or purple, ttpfer perfectlu uni/onii, and fi»nally hrokfn hy ti'an:if*-r!i** har% 

 "/ diffeffnl metallic /iiW.s— golden green. steel-Mue. bronze, or purple, according 

 to the individual. Tail and wings bluish or greenish. 



a.Quifcnla. Head, neck and Jugulum varying from brassy green to steel-blue, 

 violet, or purplish bronze, the color (whatever it may bel rarely abruptly de- 

 flned posteriorly. Body usually with purplish predominating, Male. Wing 

 5.,'")0-5.90: tail 5.20-6.20; bill, from nostril, ,88-1.00. Hah. .\tlauUc coast, from 

 northern Florida to Massachusetts. 

 h. agUrns. Head. neck, and Jugulum usually purplish violet (more bluish an- 

 teriorly), and usually sharply deilncd posteriorly. Body usually dark metallic 

 bronze-green, 



Male. Wing 6. 10-5.50; tnil .').05-5.f.O; bill, from nostril, .90-1.05. Hah. Southern 

 Florida. 



Quiscalus quiscula seneus Ridgw.* 



BBONZED ORACKLE. 



Popular STnonyin. Western Crow Blackbird. 



(Jiiiitcahi:) rir.iicotor AUD. B. Am. iv, 1842. 58, pi. 221 (description and account of habits 

 refers in part to Q. (jMisoii/n).— Baird. B. N. Am. 1858.555 (part; western specimens). 

 (Jniscalus itneirs RrDc.w, Proc. Phil. .\c. Sci. 1889. 1»1. 

 Quiacalvs purpureua vnr. (riici/.s B. B. & R. Hist. N. .Km. B. ii. 1874. 218. 

 (Juiecahis ]>urpureu» a^neus RtDow. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881. Xo. 278').— CouES, 2d Check 

 List. 1882, No. 3W, 



Hab, Interior of North America, from Mississippi Valley to the Bocky Mountains, 

 and north to the Saskatchewan. Hudson's Bay Territory, and Labrador, thence south to 

 Massachusetts, northern New York, etc.; merely casual or occasional cast of the AUe- 

 ghenies south of New York, being replaced along the Atlantic seaboard by Q. quitcula. 



SuDSP, Chab. Entire body, above and below, uniform and unvarying brassy olive, 

 or olive-bronze. Wings gradually shading into bronze-purple, the primaries and tail 

 more violet-purple. Head. neck, and Jugulum metallic brassy green, steel-blue, violet 

 or purple (according to the individuall, always very abruptly deflned against the very 

 different color of the buck and breast. 



Adult male. Total length (fresh), 13.00; extent, 17,75; wing (skins). 5,55-5,75; tail, 5,50- 

 6.20; bill, from nostril. ,S8-.90. Bill and feet deep black ; Iris yellowish white. 



Adult feutale. Total length (fresh). 11.25-11.50; extent. 16.o0-lfi.50; wing (in skins). 5.00- 

 5.05; tnil. 4.8O-4.M0; bill, from nostril. .70-.75. Plumage much duller than in the mule, the 

 metallic colors less brilliant. 



Young. Uniform grayish dusky, without metallic tints, Ii-is pale brown. 



• "A, O. U, Cheek List;" Quiscalus teneus, according to the author's views. 



