560 



NORTH AMERICAN JJIRDS. 



fibres are disconnected on their terminal portion, enlarged and stiffened, 

 almost bristle-like ; otherwise the cliaracters are much as in Mclanerpcs. It 



MelanerpfS erylhrocephalus. 



should, however, be noted, that the feathei-s of the red portion of the head in 

 the other species have the same texture. 



Species and Varieties. 



A« Sexes similar. Yovng very <litVerent from the adult. 



M. torquatus. Feathers of the lover parts, as well as of frontal, lateral, 

 and under portions of the head, with the fibres bristle-like. (Asyndesmns, 

 CouES.) Upper parts whollj'- uniform, continuous, very metallic blackish- 

 green. Adult. Forehead, lores, cheeks, and chin deep crimson, of a burnt- 

 carmine tint: jugulum, breast, and a ring entirely around the nape, grayish- 

 white: abdomen light carmine. Back glossed with purplish-bronze. Young 

 without the red of the head, and lacking the grayish nuchal collar; abdomen 

 only tinged with red, no purple or bronze tints above. Wing. G.70 : tail, 

 4.50. Hob. Western Province of the United States, from the Black Hills 

 to the Pacific. 



M. erythrocephalus. Feathers generally soft, blended : those of the whole 

 head and neck with stiffened and bristle-like fibres in the adult. Secondaries, 

 rump, and upper tail-coverts, with whole lower parts from the neck, con- 

 tinuous pure white. Two lateral tail-feathers tipped with white. Adult. 

 Whole head and neck bright venous-crimson or blood-red, with a black 

 convex posterior border across the jugulum ; back, wings, and tad glossy 

 blue-black. Younrj. Head and neck grayish, streaked with dusky ; back 

 and scapulars grayish, spotted with black ; secondaries with two or three 

 black bands ; breast tinged with grayish, and with sparse dusky streaks. 

 Wing, 5.00 ; tail. 3.90. Hah. Eastern Province of the United States, west 

 to the Rocky Mountains. 



B» Sexes dissimilar ; young like the adult. 



M. formicivorus. Forehead and a broad crescent across the middle of the 

 throai (the two areas counectc^d by a narrow strip across the lore), white, 

 more or less tinged with sulphur-yellow. Rump, upper tail-coverts, ab- 



