176 



a poor idea of their appearance, some will probably 

 appear on the show bench, but one would like to see 

 figured by a reliable artist a nestling and four adult 

 birds, one of each sex from the two ways of production. 



IRcstina ot the ^Ru^^v**6boulC)e^e^ 

 (TowbirD or ^ronpial. 



(Agel<xus huvieralis.) 

 By O. M11.LSUM. 



I claim no merit for having been successful in 

 breeding the Ruddy-shouldered Cowbird, simply 

 because I was quite unaware, until the event, that I 

 possessed a true pair of Agelcens luwieralis . 



I purchased three specimens from an importation 

 in October last, disposing of one to a fellow aviculturist 

 shortly afterwards, and quite by good fortune I had 

 retained a true pair. 



The sexual distinction of these birds is so minute 

 that, accustomed as I am to my specimens, I can 

 scarcely sex them unless perched together. 



The female is an exact facsimile of the male 

 excepting that she is of slighter build. 



[At my request Mr. Millsum kiiidlj' caught his birds aud 

 made a minute examiuation with the following result. — Ed.] 



I caught the birds as desired and was then able to 

 distinguish the slight sexual distinctions. It certainly 

 would not be otherwise noticed ; even with the birds 

 in the hand I overlooked it at first, but on a second 

 observation the black markings (represented by dots 

 on diagram) were distinctly visible on last row of 

 feathers. 



