of the United States . 53 



55. Icterus pecoris. Temm. Glossy black ; head and neck 

 deep silky drab. 



Female sooty-brown, beneath pale. 



Young similar, the breast spotted. 



Coiv Bunting, Emberiza pecoris, Wils. Am. Om. tup. 145- 

 pi. is. Jig. i. male. fig. 2. female, fig. 3. young. 



Inhabits in summer, Canada and the northern states, in 

 winter the southern and Mexico : found also in South Ame- 

 rica : common : migrating in large flocks. The only spe- 

 cies known, that, like the European Cuckoo, deposits its eggs 

 in the nests of other birds : like the European Starling 

 it follows cattle and alights on their backs. Intimately allied 

 to the preceding subgenus, to which it may with propriety 

 be united. 



54. Icterus agripennis, Nob. Tail feathers very acute. 



Adult male in spring dress, black ; hind head cream 

 colour ; scapulars, rump, and tail coverts, white. 



Female, young, and male, in summer, autumn, and winter 

 dress, varied with brownish-black and reddish-olive; beneath 

 dull yellow. 



Rice Bunting, Emberiza oryzivora, Wils. Am. Om. u, 

 p> 48. pi. 12. fig. l. male in spring dress fig. -z. female. 



Inhabits the whole United States during summer : com- 

 mon : wintering in tropical America. Breeds north of th^ 

 fortieth parallel. 



Anomalous: strictly intermediate between Fringilla (Fa- 

 mily Passerini) and Icterus, (Family Gregarii) : particularly 

 related to the acute-tailed North American Fringillae. Toes 

 very long, and tail, formed like that of the Woodpecker, 

 often used in the same manner for the purpose of climbing 

 on the reeds and rice. 



CORACES. 



Bill cultrate, edges sharp. Outer toe free, or hardly united 

 at base to the middle one. 

 Vol. II. 



