66 



Gents XANTHOCEPHALUS Bonaparte. 



177. Xanthocephalus xauthocephalus (.Bonap.). Yellow-headed Blackbird. 

 Summer resident among the lakes and swaraps of the northwestern part of 



the State, said to be common occasionally in Lake Couoty. Mr. Charles Dury 

 has also obtained specimens from English Lake. Breeds in Lake County (Toppan); 

 also abundantly about Mud Lake, on the Illinois and Indiana line. 



Oexi'S AGELAIUS Vieillot. 



178. Agelaius phoeniceas (.Linn.). Ked-winced Blackbird; Swamp Blackbird; 



Red-sholldered Blackbird. 



Common summer resident. ^lost numerous in the vicinity of swamps and 

 marshes. Breeds. 



Genus STURNELLA Vieillot. 



"179. Sturnella magna (Liun.). Meadow Lark. 



Bill and foot of Meadow Lark, nat. size, 



Abundant summer resident. Breeds. Kesident in some numbers in the southern 

 part of the State. I do not know that the AV'estern form {/^turnelta magna neglecla) 

 has been found within the State, but I identified a specimen in Cook County, 111^ 

 near the Indiana line, in March, 1890. Oiher specimens have been recorded from 

 the same county (Eidaway, The Ornithology of Illinois, vol. 1, p. 318). 



Gends icterus Brisson. 



Subfrcnus Pendulixus Vieillot. 



180. Icterus spurius (/.iim.). Orchard Oriole. 



Summer resident, locally common; seems to be becoming more common eacb' 

 year. Breeds. Although they occasionally eat some fruit they are not to be con- 

 sidered non-beneficial, but rather they are great insect destroyers in spring and 

 early summer about the orchard, and later among the cornfields, where the family 

 may be found in company after they have left the nest. My attention has been 

 called to the fact that they are great destroyers of insects which make a cocoon of 

 the leaves of the grape. 



Subgenus Yphantes Vieillot. 



■181. Icterus galbula (Linn.). Baltimore Oriole; Hano-Nest ; Fire Bird. 



Summer resident; most numerous along watercourses and about lakes; breeds. 

 These birds appear to be becoming less numerous each year. 



