158 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Genus AGELAIUS, Vieill. 



Agdaius, Vieillot, "Analyse, 1816." (Type, Oriolus phcenicens, L.) 



Gen. Char. First quill shorter than second ; claws short; the outer lateral scarcely reach- 

 ing the base of the middle. 

 Culmen depressed at base, 

 parting the frontal feathers ; 

 length equal to that of the 

 head, shorter than tarsus. 

 Both mandibles of equal 

 thickness and acute at tip, the 

 edges much curved, the cul- 

 men, gonys, and commissure 

 nearly straight or slightly 

 sinuated ; the length of bill 

 about twice its height. Tail 

 moderate, rounded, or very 

 slightly graduated. Wings 

 pointed, reaching to end of 

 Colors black with red shoulders in North American species. One 



Agelaiiis phamcetts. 



lower tail-coverts< 



West Indian with oran2:e-bufF. 



Females streaked except in two West Indian species. 



The nostrils are small, oblong, overhung by a membranous scale. 

 bill is higher than broad at the base. 

 There is no division between the anterior 

 tarsal scutell* and the single plate on 

 the outside of the tarsus. 



The females of two West Indian 

 species are uniform black. Of these 

 the male of one, A. assimilis of Cuba, 

 is undistinguishable from that of A. 

 phosniceus ; and in fact we may without 

 impropriety consider the former as a 

 melanite race of the latter, the change 

 appreciable only in the female. The ''"'' 



A. humeralis, also of Cuba, is. smaller, Ageiaius phanieeus. 



and black, with the lesser coverts brownish orange-buff. 



The 



Species and Varieties. 



Common Characters. Males glossy black without distinct bluish lustre, lesser 

 wing-coverts bright red. Females without any red, and either wholly black or 

 variegated with light streaks, most conspicuous below. 



A. phoeniceus. Tail rounded. Red of shoulders a bright scarlet tint. 

 Black of plumage without bluiMi lustre. Fem.ales with wing-coverts edged 

 with brownish, or without any light edgings at all. 

 a. Female continuous deep blaclv, unvariegated. 



