172 GREAT CROW BLACKBIRD. 



striking character of the coronata in all its states, and gives rise to the 

 English name adopted by Wilson. 



The color of the outer edging of the wing and tail feathers is a very 

 good distinctive mark ; in the maritima it is olive-green, whilst in the 

 coronata it is white. The white spot on the inner webs of the exterior 

 tail feathers, is also four times larger in the coronata, than in the 

 maritima. 



QUISCALUS MAJOR. 



GREAT CROW BLACKBIRD. 



[Plate IV. Fig. 1, Male ; 2, Female.] 



Quiscalus major, Vieill. Nouv. Did. d'llisi. Nat. xxviii., p. 487. — Gracula quis- 

 cala, Ord, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. i., p. 253. — Gracula barita, Wilson, 

 Am. Orn. vi., Index p. viii. — Gracula quiscala, the Purple Jackdaw of the sea- 

 coast, Bartram, Travels, p. 290. — Corvus mexicanus? Guel. Syst. i., p. 375, Sp. 



42. Lath. Ind. p. 164, Sp. 36, Male. — Corvus zanoe? Gmel. Stjst. i., p. 375, Sp. 

 44. Lath. Ind. p. 164, Sp. 37, Feniale. — Pica mexicana major ? Briss. Jv. ii., p. 



43, Sp. 4, male. — Pica mexicana minor? Briss. Av. ii., p. 44, Sp. 5, Female — 

 L'Hocizana? Buff. Ois. iii., p. 103, Male. — Le Zano£? Buff. Ois. in., p. 106, 

 female. — Mexican Crow ? Lath. Syn. i., p. 396, Sp. 34, Male. — Jesser Mexican 

 Crow? Lath. Syn. i., p. 397, Sp. 36, Female. — Hocitzanatl, seu magnus S/iirnus ? 

 Hernand. Hist. An. Nob. Hisp. p. 21, Male. — Tzanahoei? Hernand. Hist. An. 

 Nov. Hisp. p. 22, Female. — Hoitzanatl? Rat, Syn. Av. p. 162, Male. — Tzanahoei, 

 seu Pica mexicana Hernandezii ? Ray, Syn. Av. p. 162, Female. 



No part of natural history has been more confused than that relating 

 to North and South American birds of black plumage ; which is by no 

 means surprising, when we recollect that they are chiefly destitute of 

 colored markings, and that the greater number of admitted species, are 

 founded on the short and ine.xact descriptions of travellers, who have ne- 

 glected to observe their forms, habits, and characters. But little aid 

 has been derived from the wretched plates hitherto given, for they seem 

 better suited to increase the confusion than to exemplify the descriptions 

 to which they are annexed, and every succeeding compiler has aggra- 

 vated, rather than diminished this complication of error. It is there- 

 fore solely by a studious attention to nature, that we can extricate 

 these species from the uncertainty involving them, and place them in a 

 distinct and cognisable situation. With these views we now give a 

 faithful representation of both sexes of the Great Crow-Blackbird, 

 drawn by that zealous observer of nature and skilful artist Mr. John J. 

 Audubon, and hope thereby to remove all doubt relative to this interest- 

 ing species. 



