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NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



tracings of dark umber-brown, deepening almost into black, but never so 

 deep as in the eggs of the eastern species. These marblings vary constantly 

 and in a remarkable degree ; in some they are almost entirely wanting. They 

 measure .90 of an inch in length by .05 in breadth. 



Subfamily QUISCALIN^. 



Char. Bill rather attenuated, as long as or longer than the head. The culmen curved, 



the tip much bent down. The 

 cutting edges inflected so as 

 to impart a somewhat tubular 

 appearance to each mandible. 

 The commissure sinuated. Tail 

 longer than the wings, usually 

 much graduated. Legs longer 

 than the head, fitted for walk- 

 ing. Color of males entirely 

 black with lustrous reflections. 



Scolecop/iagus ferru^ineus. 



The bill of the Quisca- 

 linm is very different from 

 that of the other IcUridai, and is readily recognized by the tendency to a 

 rounding inward along the cutting edges, rendering the width in a cross 

 section of the bill considerably less along the commissure than above or 

 below. The culmen is more curved than in the Agdainm. All the North 

 American species have the iris white. 



The only genera in the United States are as follows : — 



Scolecophagus. Tail shorter than the wings ; nearly even. Bill shorter than the 

 head. 



Quiscalus. Tail longer than the wings ; much graduated. Bill as long as or longer 

 than the head. 



Genus SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swainson. 



Scolecopliagus, Swainson, F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831. (Type, Oriolus ferrugineus, Gmelin.) 



Gen. Char. Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, the edges inflexed as in 

 Quiscalus^ 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 attenu- 

 ated, 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. 

 The two North American species may be distinguished as follows : — 



i 



