BIRDS — ICTERIDAE — SCOLECOPHAGUS FEEEUGINEUS. 



551 



SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swain son. 



Scolecophagus, SwAINS0^f, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831. Type Oriolus femigineus, Gmelin. 



Ch. — Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, the edges inflexed as in Quiscahis, which it otherwise greatly resembles ; the 

 commissure sinuated. Culmen rounded, but not flattened. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Tail even, or slightly rounded. 



The above characteristics will readily distinguish the genus from its allies. The form is 

 much like that of Agelaius. The bill, however, is more attenuated, the culmen curved 

 and slightly sinuated. The bend at the base of the commissure is shorter. The culmen is 

 angular at the base posterior to the nostrils, instead of being much flattened, and does not 

 extend so far behind. 



Comparative measurements. 



SCOLECOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS, Swain son 



Rusty Blackbird. 



Oriolus ferrugineus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 393, No. 43.— Lath. Ind. I, 1790, 176. 



Graculaferruginea, Wilson, Am, Orn. Ill, 1811, 41; pi. xxi; f. 3. 



Qfiiscalus ferrugineus, Bon. Obs. Wils. 1824, No. 46.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 199.— Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834,315: 



V, 1839, 483; pi. 147.— Ib. Synopsis, 1839, 146.— Ib. Birds Araer. IV, 1842, 65; pi. 222. 

 Scolecophagus ferrugineus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 286. — Bon. List, 1838. 

 ?? Oriolus niger, Gmelin, I, 1788, 393, No. 4, 5, (perhaps Quiscalus.) 

 Scolecophagus niger, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 423. — Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 195. 

 .'? Oriolus fuscus, Gmelin, Syst. I, 1788, 393, No. 44, (perhaps Molothrus.) 

 Turdus hudsonius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 818. — Lath. Ind. 

 Turdus noveboracensis, Gmelin, I, 1788, 818. 



Turdus labradorius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 832.— Lath. Ind. I, 1790, 342, {lahradorus). 

 " Pendulinus ater, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet." 



Chalcophanes virescens, Wagler, Syst. Av. (Appendix Oriolus 9). 

 ? Turdus No. 22 from Serern river, Forster, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 400. 



Sp. Cu. — 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 ; 

 Wie lateral feathers about a quarter of an inch shortest. General color black, with purple reflections ; the wing.s, under tail 

 coverts, and hinder part of the belly, glossed with green. Female dull brown. Length 9.50 ; wing, 4.75 ; tail, 4.00. 



Hab — From Atlantic coast to the Missouri . 



The female of this bird is of a dull plumbeous brown beneath, blacker above, the feathers 



