MOLOTHRUS ATER. 501 



common in August in the wheat-fields at the Overland Ranche in Kul)y 

 Valley, and we were informed at Salt Lake City that it was a common spe- 

 cies on the meadows of that section of the country in May, and again in 

 the latter part of summer, when the grain ripened. We did not meet with 

 it in summer, however, and doubt whether it breeds anywhere in the Inte- 

 rior south of the 40th parallel.' 



List of specivicm. 

 873, ? ad.; Ruby Valley, Nevada (Catup 21), August 28, 1868. 



MOLOTHRUS ATER. 

 Cow Blackbird. 



a. ater. 



Molothrus ater, Geay, Hand List, II, 1870, 36, No. 65(»7 [cites Bodd., PI. Enl., 

 1783, 606, fig. 1].— Baiud, Orn. Simpson's Exped., 1876, 379. 



FrhujiUa pecoris., GJIELIN, Syst. Nat., I, 1788, 910. 



Moloihrus pecoris, Swains. & Rich., Fauna Bor. Am., II, 1831, 277. — Baird, B. N. 

 Am., 1858, 524; Cat. N. Am. B., 1859, No. 400.— Cooper, Orn. Cal., I, 257.— 

 CotlES, Key, 1872, 1.") ; Clieck List, 1873, No. 211.— B. B. & R., Hist. N. Am. 

 B., II, 1874. 154, pi. xxxii, Ijgs. 6, 7. — Uekshaw, 1875,312. 



Molothrus pecorh. A.pecoris, CouES, B. N.W., 1874, 180. 



We found this species to be so rare in the country traversed by the 

 exjiedition that the list of specimens given below comprises eveiy individual 

 seen during the whole time. 



List of specimens. 



UG,A jui\; Camp 17, valley of tbe Humboldt, August 31, 1867. 8— 13|— 4A— 

 3| — ^^ — 1 — 25 — If. Bill, slate-black, paler and more lilaceous ou lower mandible; 

 iris, hazel ; tarsi and toes, black. 



147,? j«i\; Camp 17, valley of the Humboldt, August 31, 1867. ^■■•^~12^\-i^\— 

 3§— t— 5— 2§— IJ. Same remarks. 



782, (?rtf7.; Truckee Reservation, Juue 2, 1868. 8A— 14— (?)— 3:{. Bill, tarsi, and 

 toes, deep black; iris, burnt umber. 



1231, egg; Parley's Park, Wabsatch Mountains, Utah, Juue 23, 1869. Deposited 

 in nest of Passerclla schistacea. 



1401, egg ; Beiir River Valley, Utah, June, 1869. Deposited in nest of Oeothh/pU 

 trichas. (Collected by .Mr. J. C. Olmstead.) 



• According to Mr. Henshaw (/. c), the Bobolink apparently breeds at Prove, 

 Utah, parent birds having been noticed feeding their young, July 25th. 



