THE BREWER BLACKBIRD. 45 
rence in Washington, and it seems probable that its presence has followed 
tardily upon the introduction of cattle. Bendire was the first to report it 
from this State, having taken an egg near Palouse Falls on June 18, 1878, 
from a nest of the Slate-colored Sparrow (Passerella iliaca schistacea). 
Its presence among us is, doubtless, often overlooked because of the 
superficial resemblance which it bears in note and appearance to Brewer's 
Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus). ‘The note of the former is dis- 
tinctive,—a shrill, hissing squeak in two tones with an interval of a descending 
third, uttered with great effort and apparent nausea—honestly, a disgusting 
sound. 
No. 16. 
BREWER’S BLACKBIRD. 
A. O. U. No. 510. Euphagus cyanocephalus (Wagler). 
Description.—Adult male: Glossy black with steel blue and violet reflec- 
tions on head, with fainter greenish or bronzy reflections elsewhere; bill and feet 
black; iris pale lemon yellow or light cream. Adult female: Head and neck all 
around deep brownish gray with violet reflections; underparts brownish slate to 
blackish with faint greenish iridescence; upperparts blackish, or outright black 
on wings and tail, which are glossed with bluish-green; bill and feet as in male, 
but iris brown. Jmmature males in first winter plumage resemble adults but have 
some edging of pale grayish brown. Length of adult males: 10.00 (254) ; wing 
5.00 (128); tail 3.90 (99); bill .89 (22.6); tarsus 1.27 (32.3). Adult female: 
length 9.25 (235); wing 4.60 (117); tail 3.50 (89) bill .79 (20); tarsus 1.20 
(30.5). 
Recognition Marks.—Robin size; pure black coloration and whitish eye of 
male. Larger than Cowbird (Molothrus ater) with which alone it is likely to 
be confused. 
Nesting.—Nest: placed at moderate height in bush clump or thicket, less 
frequently on ground at base of bush, more rarely in cranny of cliff or cavity 
of decayed tree-trunk, a sturdy, tidy structure of interlaced grasses, strengthened 
by a matrix of mud or dried cow-dung and carefully lined with coiled rootlets or 
horsehair. Nests in straggling colonies. Eggs: 4-7, usually 5 or 6, presenting two 
divergent types of coloration with endless variations and intermediate phases. 
Light type: ground color light gray or greenish gray, spotted and blotched with 
brown of varying shades, walnut, russet, and sepia. (In some examples there is 
purplish brown scrawling, which suggests the Redwing type. One egg in the 
writer’s collection is indistinguishable from that of a Cowbird, save for size.) 
Dark type: ground color completely obscured by overlay of fine brown dots 
resulting in nearly uniform shade of mummy brown or Vandyke brown. Av. size 
1.03 x .72 (26.2 x 18.3). Season: April 20-May 10; one or two broods. 
General Range.—Western North America from the plains to the Pacific, 
and from the Saskatchewan region south to the highlands of Mexico to Oaxaca. 
