10. DOUCHONII. 331 



Key to the Genera. 



. Bill short, stout, conical; mesorhinium 

 rounded, or but slightly flattened. 



a. Tail-feathers acute ; hind claw 



lengthened 10. Dolichonyx, p. 331. 



b. Tail-t'eathers and bind claw normal. 

 a'. Cuhneu slightly incurved ; meso- 

 rhinium rounded 11. Molotheus, p. 332. 



6'. Culmeu straight; mesorhinium 

 more or less flattened, 

 a^. Tarsi moderately long. 



' Tail moderate ; rectrices 



rounded 12. Agel^etts, p. 339. 



.Tail short; rectrices acute 13. Leistes, p. 348. 



b". Tarsi very long 14. Xanthocephalus,p. 349. 



B. Bill more elongated ; mesorhinium 

 much flattened. 



c. Upper mandible broadened at the 



extremity 15. Amblyrhamphus, p. 350. 



d. Upper mandible acute. 

 c'. Base of bill smooth. 



I Tail moderately long ...... 16. Pseudoleistks, p. 351. 



I Tail short 17. Nesopsak, p. 353. 



d'. Base of biU sulcated 18. Cur^us, p. 354. 



10. DOLICHONYX. ^ 



Type. 

 Dolichonyx, Sw, Zool. Jouni. iii. p. 351 (1827) . . D. oryzivora. 



The short, Finch-like hill and acuminated tail-feathers at once 

 mark out this peculiar form, which is a well-known breeding bird in 

 North America, but descends far south in winter. It is likewise 

 remarkable for maintaining its full plumage only in the breeding- 

 season, after which the males appear to reassume the young or 

 female plumage. 



1. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 



Emberiza oryzivora, Linn. S. N. i. p. 311 ; JFils. Am. Orn. ii, p. 48. 

 pi. 12. f. 1, 2. ^ ' 



Passerina oryzivora, Vieill. N. D. xxv. p. 3. 



Psarocolius caudacutus, Watjl. Si/st. Av. sp. 32. 



Dolichonyx oryzivora, Src. Faim. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 278 ; Bp. Consp. 

 i. p. 437 ; Gosse, B. Jam. p. 229; Baird, B. N. Am. p. 522; Aud. 

 Birds Am. iv. p. 10, pi. 211 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 72 (Bio 

 Napo), 1861, p. 74 (Jamaica) ; id. Cat. A. B. p. 1.34 ; id. Ibis, 

 1884, p. 2 ; Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 781 (Merida), 1876, 

 p. 16 (Peru) ; iid. Nomencl. p. 37 ; Gundl. J. f. O. 1874, p. 129 

 (Cuba); Salvin, Ibis, 1866, p. 194 (Belize), 1885, p. 191 ( Cozumel) et 

 p. 218 (Brit. Guian.); Baird, Bretv., et Ridgw. B. N. A. ii. p. 149; 

 Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 199 (Mato-Grosso) ; Tacz. Orn. Per. ii. p. 421 '; 

 Gould, Zool. Vol/. 'Beagle,' iii. p. 106 (Galapagos): Coues. Eev 

 N. A. B. (1884) p. 400. r o / , , y 



Male in breeding-plumage. Black; nape pale buff; interscapulium 

 varied with brown ; scapularies and lower back ashy white ; wino-s 



