202 



NORTH AMEHirAN BVliV^. 



truL'ini^s of" <lurk nniluT-ltrrtwii, (IcopeniiiLj almost into l)la('k, but never so 

 deep as in the e<;i;s of the eastern speeies. Tliese niailtlin^s vary eonstantly 

 and in a lemaikaMe (U'l^ree ; in some tliey are almost entirely ^vautin^^ They 

 measure AH) of an inch in leiiLCth l»v .<»."» in hreadth. 



Subfamily QUISCALINiE. 



CiiAii. Bill rather attenuated, as long as or longer than tlie lu':ul. The eulmen curveil, 



tlie tip much hent down. The 

 ■* I J J cutting lodges intleeted so as 

 to impart a somewhat tuhular 

 appearance to each manchhlc. 

 The commissure sinuatcd. Tail 

 longer than the wings, usually 

 much graduated. Legs longer 

 than the head, fitted for walk- 

 ing. Color of males entirely 

 black with lustrous reflections. 



Scolfcophaaus ferruqineus. 



The bill of the Quuca- 

 Una: is very different from 

 that of the other LUriihr, and is readily recot^nized by the tendency to a 

 roundinir inward alunn- the cuttimj; edg;es, renderinjj; the width in a cross 

 section of the bill considerablv less alon'' the commissure than above or 

 below. The eulmen is more curved than in the Ayclaina:. AW. the North 

 American species have the iris white. 



The onlv L^enera in the United States are as follows : — 



Scolecophagus. Tail shorter than the wings ; nearly even. Bill shorter than the 

 head. 



Quiscalus. Tail longer than the wings ; much graduated. Bill as long as or longer 

 than the head. 



Gems SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swaixson. 



Scolecophagus, Swainson, F. Bor.-Ani. II, 1S31. (Type, Or iol us fcmoj incuts, Gmeun.) 



Gen*. Cfi.vr. Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, the edges inflexed as in 

 QxiscdJifs^ which it otherwise greatly resembles ; the conmiissuro sinuated. Culmen 

 rounded, but not (lattened. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Tail even, or slightly 

 rounded. 



Tlie above characteristics will readilv distin'jjuish the cjenus from its allies. 

 The form is much like that of Afplains. The bill, however, is more attenu- 

 ated, the cidmen curved and slii'htlv sinuated. The bend at the base of the 

 commisstire is shorter. The cnlmen is angular at the base posterior to the 

 nostrils, instead of beini; much flattened, and docs not extend so far behind. 

 The two North American species may be distiuL^mished as follows: — 



