gS BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



AGEL.SUS PHCENICEUS. Vieil. 

 Red-winged Blackbird. 



Aduli Male. — General plumage, black; lesser wing -coverts, 

 bright scarlet, broadly edged with yellowish white ; bill and feet, 

 black. 



Adult Fonalc. — Above, brownish, the feathers edged with dull 

 rufous or tawny; under parts, dull white, streaked with brown; 

 throat and superciliary line, tawny. (From specimen taken in the 

 United States.) 



Female specimens of A. assimilis, from Cuba, which I consider 

 to be simply a small southern variety of the present species, are 

 dull black. 



Length 8.75, wing 4.40, tail 3.90, tarsus 1.20, bill .So. 



The Red-winged Blackbird is a rather common winter visitant, 

 and perhaps a resident, as I have taken specimens as late as May 

 20. We found it Cjuite abundant around the ponds near Hawk's 

 Nest, Andros Island, Nothing peculiar was observed regarding 

 its habits. Its food consists mainly of various kinds of insects and 

 larva;, of which it destroys great numbers. It also eats fruit and 

 berries. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. IV. pi. 216. 



