350 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
fore, worthy the highest consideration and protection from 
the farmer. 
The familiarity of this bird with man, and its sociable and 
genial disposition, are so well known that any description 
of its habits here is unnecessary. About the middle of 
September, after forming into small detached flocks, this 
species leaves New England on its southern migration. 
Sub-Family QuiscaLinz.— The Grackles. 
Bill rather attenuated, as long 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 walking. 
The bill of the Quiscaline is very different from that of the other Jcteride, 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 commis- 
sure than above or below. The culmen is more curved than in the Agelaine. 
The only genera in the United States are as follows: — 
ScoLEcopuacus. — Tail shorter than the wings, nearly even; bill shorter than 
the head. 
Quiscatus. — Tail longer than the wings, much graduated; bill as long as or 
longer than the head. 
SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swatnson. 
Scolecophagus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am., II. (1881). (Type Oriolus ferrugineus, 
Gmelin.) 
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. 
SCOLECOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS. — Swainson. 
The Rusty Grackle. . 
Gracula ferruginea, Wilson. Am. Orn., III. (1811) 41. 
Quiscalus ferrugineus, Nuttall. Man., I. (1832) 199. Aud. Orn. Biog., II. (1834) 
815; V. (1839) 483. 
Scolecophagus ferrugineus, Swainson. F. Bor. Am., II. (1831) 286. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Bill slender, shorter than the head, about equal to the hind toe; its height not 
quite two-fifths the total length; wing nearly an inch longer than the tail; second 
quill longest; first a little shorter than the fourth; tail slightly graduated; the lateral 
ans: ~~ eo eT ere 
