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GENUS aUISCALUS — VIEILL, 

 CROW BLACKBIRD. 



[Bill as long as the head, compressed from the base, strong, tapering — upper 

 mandible toward the end curving over the lower ; nostrils half closed by a mem- 

 brane ; head of moderate size ; neck rather short, full ; wings moderate ; tail 

 long, rounded, slightly concave ; tarsi as long as the middle toes ; feet moderate ; 

 toes rather long, hind toe strongest ; middle toe longest, and united to the outer 

 at the base by a membrane ; inner free.] 



aUISCALUS VERSICOLOR— VIEILL. 



PURPLE GRAKLE. 



Purple Grakle, Gracula quiscala, Wils. Amer. Orn. ' 



Purple Grakle, Gracula quiscala, Bonap. Amer. Orn. 



Gracula quiscala, Bonap, Syn. 



Common Crow Blackbird, Quiscalus versicolor, Nutt. Man. 



Quiicalus versicolor. Common Purple Boat-tail, Sw. & Rich. 



Purple Grakle, or Common C/ow Blackbird, Quiscalus versicolor, Aud. 



Specific Character — Bill rather long, stout ; tail very long, grad- 

 uated, concave. Adult male, when seen in the air or on the ground 

 the general plumage seems to be black ; but when closely examin- 

 ed, the head, neck all round, and fore part of the breast, exhibits 

 glossy steel blue and green reflections. The rest of the lower parts 

 and the back have a bright coppery appearance ; the secondaries 

 and their coverts glossed with violet ; the primaries and tail feathers 

 are black, glossed with blue and purple ; tail long, and much roun- 

 ded. Female smaller than the male ; the plumage dull brown, 

 lighter beneath, with a few green reflections. Length of male 

 twelve inches, wing five and three quarters. 



About the first of April the Common Crow Blackbird visits Long 

 Island from the South, and continues to arrive in scattered flocks 

 until its loud chattering is heard in allour swamps and meadows. 

 This common species is found in all parts of the United States, -and 

 is said to inhabit all parts of the continent. Late in autumn, it mi- 

 grates southward. Wilson informs uSj that " a singular attach- 

 ment frequently takes place between this bird and the Fish Hawk. 

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