390 icterid.t:. 



24. SCOLECOPHAGUS. 



Type. 

 Scolecophagiis, Siv. Faun. Bor.-Ain., Aves, p. 494 



(18-'U) S. ferrufjineiis. 



Eupliagus, Cassiii, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1866, p. 413 . . S. cyauoceplialus. 



In Scolccophcuias the bill is slender and the culmen incurved, the 

 tip being decidedly bent down. The tail is longer than the wings 

 and graduated, bnt not so much as in Lampropsar. The tarsi are 

 long, and indicate terrestrial habits. 



The Marsh Blackbirds nest upon trees usually in colonies, make 

 open cup-shaped nests, and lay spotted eggs. The two known 

 species arc only found in the Nearctic Region. 



Key to the Species. 



A. With slenderer bill ; head hke the body . . 1. fernujineiis, p. 390. 



B. "With stouter bill ; head purplish, different 



from the greenish back 2. cyajiocephalus, p. 390. 



1. Scolecophagus ferrugineus. 



Oriolus ferrugineus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 393. 



Gracula ferruginea, Wils. A?n. Orn. iii. p. 41, pi. 21. f. 3. 



Scolecophagus ferrugineus, S^v. Faun. Bor.-Am. ii. p. 286 ; Baird, 



B. N. Am. p. 551 ;' Sd. Cat. A. B. p. 140 ; id. Ibis, 1884, p. 150 ; 



Cassin, Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 18G6, p. 412 ; Baird, Bretoer, et Bidf/ivai/, 



N. A. B. ii. p. 203 ; Blakidon, Ihis, 1863, p. 82 (Saskatchewan] ; 



Coues, Key N. A. B. (1884) p. 411. 

 Scolecophagus niger, Bp. Consp. i. p. 423 ; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 195. 

 Rice Oriole, Latham, Gen. H. B. iii. p. 98. 



Black, with slight purple reflections ; Avings and tail washed with 

 green ; in autumnal plumage all the feathers margined with ferru- 

 ginous ; bill and feet black : whole length 9'5 inches, wing 4"0, 

 tail 8-5. Female similar, but smaller. 



Hah. Eastern States of N. America to the Missouri. 



o. Jr. st. Arctic America. Capt. Back [P.]. 



b. Ad. sk. Arctic America. Dr. Rae. 



c. Ad. sk. Fort Sinipson, N.A. B. R. Ross, Esq. [P.]. 



f/, e,/. Ad. sk. Forty-ninth Parallel, N.A. N.A. Boundary Com- 



missioE [P.]. 



q. Ad. sk. Illinois (Coale). R. B. Sharpe, Esq. [P.]. 



h. Jr. sk. lUinois (Coale). U.S. Nat. Mus. [P.]. 



i. 2 fid. sk. New Bruus^vick (Osburn). Sclater Coll. 



,/. (S ad.sk. Albany, New York (//«;■«<). Sulater Coll. 



7.-. 5 ^d. sk. Carlisle, Pa., U.S Salvin-Godman Coll. 



l,m. S ad.sk. Distr. Colombia {Cones). U.S. Nat. Mus. [P.]. 



2. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus. 



Psarocolius cyanocephalus, Wagl. Isis, 1829, p. 758. 

 Scolecophagus cyanocephalus, Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 195 ; Baird, B. 

 JSr. A7n. p. oo2; Sal. Cat. A. B. p. 140; id. Ibis, 1884, p. 151: 



