98 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
AGELAUS PHA:NICEUS. Vieil. 
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 
Adult Male.— General plumage, black; lesser wing-coverts, 
bright scarlet, broadly edged with yellowish white; bill and feet, 
black. 
Adult Female.— 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 4. asszmzlis, 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 .80. 
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 quite 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 
larvae, of which it destroys great numbers. It also eats fruit and 
berries. 
Fig, Aud. Bds. N. A. Vol. 1V: pl. 216. 
