Ps 
ICTERIDZ, AMERICAN STARLINGS. —GEN. 88, 89. 155 
applied by some to this bird, by others to the Carolina rail, is a strange 
misnomer, the ortolan being a fringilline bird of Europe. In the West 
Indies, where the present species retires in winter, it is called “butterbird.” 
Wvies.; ii, 48, pl. 12, f. 1,.2; Norv., i, 185; Aup., iv, 10, pl. 2114 Bo., 
Meee cee er ee RP 50 6 SS ORYAIVGRUS. 
88. Genus MOLOTHRUS Swainson. 
Cowbird. @ iridescent black, head and neck purplish-brown; 74-8 ; 
wing over 4; tail over 3. @ 7-74; wing 3}; tail 22; an obscure looking 
bird, nearly uniform dusky grayish-brown, but rather paler below, and 
appearing somewhat streaky, owing to darker shaft lines on nearly all the 
feathers ; bill and feet black in both sexes. The young ¢ at first resembles 
the 9 , but is decidedly streaked below. North America, abundant; grega- 
rious, polygamous, parasitic. The singular habits of this bird, probably 
shared by others of the genus, form one of the most interesting chapters in 
ornithology. Like the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, laying its eggs 
by stealth in the nests of various other birds, especially warblers, vireos and 
sparrows ; and it appears to constitute, furthermore, a remarkable exception 
to the rule of conjugal affection and fidelity among birds. A wonderful 
provision for the perpetuation of the species is seen in its instinctive selec- 
tion of smaller birds as the foster-parents of its offspring; for the larger 
ege receives the greater share of warmth during incubation, and the lustier 
young cowbird asserts its precedence in the nest; while the foster-birds, 
however reluctant to incubate the strange egg (their devices to avoid the 
duty are sometimes astonishing) become assiduous in their care of the found- 
ling, even to the neglect of their own young. The cowbird’s egg is said to 
hatch sooner than that of most birds; this would obviously confer additional 
advantage. — Wits., ii, 145, pl. 18, f. 1, 2, 3; Nurr., i, 178; Avp., iv, 
Morapiepeiia se D024. 93 so ee a SS. ee se 0) PECORIS: 
Var. opscurus. Dwarf Cowbird. Similar; smaller; ¢ the size of 2 pecoris ; 
Q@ under 7; wing 34; tail 21. The difference is very strongly marked, and appar- 
ently constant. Arizona, Lower California, and southward. Cass. Proc. Phila. 
Acad. 1866, 18; Cours, ibid., 90; Coopr., 260. 
89. Genus AGELAUS Vieillot. 
*,*The gf uniform lustrous black, with the bend of the wing red; 8—9 long; 
wing 41-5; tail31-4. The 9 everywhere streaked; ,above blackish-brown with 
pale streaks, inclining on the head to form median and superciliary stripes; below 
whitish with very many sharp dusky streaks, the sides of the head, throat, and the 
bend of the wing, tinged with reddish or fulvous; under 8; wing about 4; tail 3}. 
The young ¢ at first like the 9, but larger, apt to have a general buffy or fulvous 
suffusion, and bright bay edgings of the feathers of the back, wings and tail, and 
soon showing black patches.— Upon investigation of the variations in the character 
of the wing-patch, upon which our three accredited species rested, I am satisfied of 
the propriety of treating them as varieties of one. The 9’s are indistinguishable. 
2 EN ee ee 
