BIRDS—ICTERIDAE—AGELAIUS PHOENICEUS. 527 
from the nostrils and parallel with the upper outline, as well.as at the base of the lower jaw 
nearly parallel with the gonys. The greatest depth of the bill, measured at the base of, and 
perpendicular to the lower outline, is just half the length of the culmen, which is about as long 
as the skull. The third and fourth quills are longest; the first about equal to the fifth. The 
tail is considerably rounded, the lateral ones about .30 to .50 of an inch shorter, The tarsus is 
about equal to the middle toe. 
The female differs greatly in appearance. The prevailing color above is brownish black, all 
the feathers margined with reddish brown ; some of those on the back with brownish yellow, 
which on the median and greater wing coverts forms two bands. The under parts are dull 
whitish, each feather broadly streaked centrally with dark brown; the chin and throat 
yellowish and but little streaked. There is a distinct whitish superciliary streak alongside the 
head tinged anteriorly with brownish yellow, and another less distinct in the median line of the 
crown. There is usually no indication of any red on the wing, but in one specimen, (2174,) 
marked barren female, the plumage generally is darker and approximating to that of the male; 
the shoulders red, streaked with black; the light markings about the head tinged with rose 
color. The immature males exhibit every possible condition of coloration between that of the 
old male and of the female. 
There is some variation in the shade of red on the shoulders, which is sometimes of the color 
of arterial blood or bright crimson. It never, however, has the haematitic tint of the red in 
A, tricolor, The middle coverts are sometimes uniform brownish yellow to the very tips; 
sometimes some of these middle coverts are tipped at the end with black, but these black tips 
are usually of slight extent. 
There is some variation in the size and proportions of the bill. The most striking is ina 
series of three from the Red River settlement, decidedly larger than more southern ones, (wing, 
5.15; tail, 4.40.) The bill is about as long as that of Pennsylvania specimens, but much 
stouter, the thickness at the base being considerably more than half the length of the culmen. 
One specimen from San Elizario, Texas, has the bill of much the same size and proportions. 
A specimen (4050) from Saltillo has the lobe in the commissure larger, and the terminal 
portion of the commissure much emarginated. 
