ICTERIDaE — THE ORIOLES. 



16^ 



are more oblong in shape than the preceding, but nearly equally obtuse at 

 either end. They are similar in ground-color to the pltceniceus, but are of a 

 slightly deeper shade of blue, and are marked around one end with a ring 

 of dark slaty-brown, almost black, lines, and irregular oblong blotches. 



Genus XANTHOCEPHALUS, Bonap. 



XanthocepJialus, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 431. (Type, Icterus ideroceplialus, Bonap.) 



Gen. Char. Bill conical, the length about twice the height; the outlines nearly 

 straight. Claws all very long; much curved; the inner lateral the longest, reaching 



XanUiocephaliis icterotephahm. 



beyond the middle of the middle claw. Tail narrow, nearly even, the outer web scarcely 

 widening to the end. Wings long, much longer than the tail ; the first quill longest. 



This genus differs from typical Agdaius in much longer and more curved 

 claws, even tail, and first quill longest, instead of the longest being the 

 second, third, or fourth. The yellow head and black body are also strong 

 marks. 



Xanthocephalus icterocephalus, Baird. 



YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 



Ictenis iderocepJialus, Bonap. Am. Orn. I, 1825, 27, pi. iii. — Nutt. Man. I, 1832, 176. — 

 Ib., (2d ed ,) 187 (not Oriolus icterocephalus, LiNN.). Agelaius icterocephalus, Cabanis, 

 Mus. Hein. 1851, 188. Icterus {XantJiormis) xanthocephalus, Bonap. J. A. N. Sc. V, 

 II, Feb. 1826, 222. — Ib. Syn. 1828, 52. Icterus xanthocephalus, AuD. Orn. Biog. "V, 

 1839, 6, pi. ccclxxxviii. Agelaius xanthocephalus, Swainson, F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831, 

 281. — Bon. List, 1838. — AuD. Syn. 1839, 140. —Ib. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 24, pi. 

 ccxiii. — Newberry, Zool. Cal. and Or. Route; Rep. P. R. R. Surv. VI, iv, 1857, 

 86. — Max. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 361. — Heerm. X, S, 52 (nest). Agelaius longipes, 

 Swainson, Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 436. PsarocoUus perspicillams, " Light." Wagler, 

 Isis, 1829. VII, 753. Icterus 2Krspicillatus, "Light, in Mus." Wagler, as above. 

 Xanthocephalus perspicillatus, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 431. Merits frcnatus. Light. 

 Isis, 1843, 59. — Reinhardt, in Kroyer's Tidskrift, IV. — Ib. Vidensk. Meddel. for 

 1853, 1854, 82 (Greenland). Xanthocephalus icterocephalus, Baird, M. B. II, Birds, 

 18 ; Birds N. Am. 1858, 531. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 267. 



