1S91.] Stu2sK Oil tlic species ofMolotlinis. 345 



been clearly separated by Ridgway (Manual of N. A. Birds, 

 p. 589). To Callothrtcs belong M. crneus Wagl., j\I. 7'obus- 

 tus Cab., and probably AI. armcnti Cab., a bird wliich I have 

 never seen, and which is not now in the Academy collection, 

 though Cassin refers a young male formerly in the collection to 

 this species. To JSIolothrus belong the brown headed M. ater 

 (Boild.) and M. ater obscurus (Gmel.), the rufous winged M. 

 ba(////s, J/, friiigillarliis, jM. riifoaxillaris^ and the group of 

 glossy purple species allied to AI. boi/a ricnsls {Gm.) . It is 

 among the latter that the confusion exists. 



Having examined all the material at my disposal and consulted 

 all the descriptions applying to this groujD, I think that five 

 species can be recognized, the adult males of which may be dis- 

 tinguished by the following table. 



A. Reflections of head and interscapulum decidedly purple. Breast 



bright purple, rather brighter than the back and generally 

 with slight golden reflections. 



a. Wing, 3.80 to 4.00 in M. atroiiiteiis. 



b. Wing, 4.25 to 4.50 in. 



aa. Bill moderate, culmen .73 in M. boiuirie/isis. 



hb. Bill much heavier, culmen .82 in. or more. ..M. fiirpurasceiis. 



B. Reflections of head and interscapulum bluer. Breast darker purple 



without golden reflections. Bill more slender than in any 



of the otb.er species, .80 in. long M. veiiezuelci/sis. 



h. Wing 5.15 to 5.25 in M. cabanisii. 



The synonymy of the species, with brief descriptions, follows: 



M. bonariensis {Gin.). 



Tanagra bonariensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, p. 898, 17S8. — Bonaparte, 



Conspectus Av. I, p. 437. 

 Molothrus bonarietisis Cabanis, Mus. Hein. I, p. 193. — Cassin, Proc. A. 



N. S. Phila. 1866, p. 19. — Sclater & Salvin, P. Z. S. 1S68, p. 



140.— ScLATER, Ibis, 1884, p. 5 ; Catal. Bds. Brit. Mus. XI, p. 335. 

 Icterus sericeics'Licur. , Doubl., p. 19, 1S23. 

 Molothrus sericeus Bonaparte, Consp. Av. I, p. 437.— Cassin, Proc. A. 



N. S. Phila. 1866, p. 21. 

 Molothrus sericeus BuRM. Syst. Ueb. II, p. 279;— La Plata Reise, II, p. 



494- 

 Scolecofhagus sericeus Sw., An. in Menag., p. 301. 

 Icterus minor Spix, Av. Bras. I, p. 67, pi. 63, fig. 2. 

 Icterus violaceus Max. Beitrag. Ill, p. 1212. 

 Molothrus niger Gould, Zool. Voy. Beagle, III, p. 107. 



