p 



GENUS 16. GRACULA. GRAKLE. 



SPECIES 1. GRACULA FERRUGINEA. 



RUSTY GRAKLE.* 

 [Plate XXL Fig. 3.] 



Black Oriole, Arct. Zool. p. 259, JVo. \W. Rusty Oriole, Ibid, 

 p. 260, JVb. 146. JVete? Fork Thrush, Ibid. p. 339, JVo. 205. 

 Hudsonian Thrush, Ibid. 7Vo. 234, female. Labrador Thrush, 

 Ibid. p. 340, No. 206. PEALE'S Museum, JVb. 5514. 



HERE is a single species described by one of the most judi- 

 cious naturalists of Great Britain no less than five different times ! 

 The greater part of these descriptions is copied by succeeding 

 naturalists, whose synonymes it is unnecessary to repeat. So 

 great is the uncertainty in judging, from a mere examination of 

 their dried or stuffed skins, of the particular tribes of birds, 

 many of which, for several years, are constantly varying in the 

 colours of their plumage ; and at different seasons, or different 

 ages, assuming new and very different appearances. Even the 

 size is by no means a safe criterion, the difference in this respect 

 between the male and female of the same species (as in the one 

 now before us) being sometimes very considerable. 



This bird arrives in Pennsylvania, from the north, early in 

 October; associates with the Red-wings, and Cow-pen Buntings, 

 frequents corn fields, and places where grasshoppers are plenty ; 

 but Indian corn, at that season, seems to be its principal food. 

 It is a very silent bird, having only now and then a single note, 

 or chuck. We see them occasionally until about the middle of 



* The Genus Gracula, as at present restricted, consists of only a single spe- 

 cies; the others formerly included in it have been distributed in other genera. 

 The two species described by Wilson belong to the genus Icterus as adopted 

 by Temminck. 



