ICTKIIID.E — TIIH OKIOLES. 



163 



In Hoino i'li'^H, t'S]i('ciiilly tlmst! tuiiiid in iiiniu iiorlluM'ii liicalitics, the 

 f,'r(Piiii(l-((il((r is (Irali, with iv strong tinge of |mr|ilo. Over this is ditluseil ii 

 scries of (liisc'iiiv liivender-folor, luid tiien overlying liiesu are larger and 

 liolder iilotclies (if wine-colored brown. In a few eggs long and irregular 

 lines of dark iiuri>le, so dec]) as to be undistinguishablu from black, uro 

 added. Tliuso ugy.s aro quite pointed at oue end. 



(!i;nis MOLOTHRUS, Sw.vinso.n. 



Miihilhrus, SwAlNsoN, 1''. liiir. -Ain. II, 18;il, 277 ; .suii|iostu liy I'libaiiis to In- mciiiit lor 

 Moliihiii.s. (Ty|M', Fri'iiiii/lii jiimrin, (jM.) 



<1kn. Cii.Mi. Hill short, siiiiif, iil)oui two tliirds the length of head ; the coiiiiuissiiro 

 striii;,'ht, etihiieii and ponvs sliyilitly 

 I'Uivcd, convex, the I'onncr lii'oiul, 

 rounded, convex, nnd rnnnin<r ImcU on 

 the hem! in ii point. Ijnteral Iocs nearly 

 e([nnl, renchiii}; the ha.se of the middle 

 one, which is siiortcr than taisns; (;laws 

 rather small. Tail nearly even; wings 

 long, pointed, the lirst ([uill longest. As 

 far as known, the species make iu> nest, 

 but deposit the eggs in the nests of 

 other, usually smaller, birds. 



The genus Molothrus has the bill 



Mololhrtix pnoris. 



32'! 40 



intermediate between Dolichoiujx 

 and Ayclainii. It has the culnien unusually broad between the nostrils, and 

 it extends back some distance into the forehead. The dift'erence in the 

 structure of the feet from BoHchoni/x is very great. 



Species of Molothrus resemble some of the FriiKjiUidcc more than any 



other of the LtcrUhe. The bill is, 

 however, more straight, the tij) with- 

 out notch ; the culnieu running back 

 farther on the forehead, the nostrils 

 being situated fully one third or more 

 of the total length from its posterior 

 extremity. This is seldom the ease 

 in the American families. The en- 

 tire absence of notch in the bill and 

 of bristles along the rictus are strong 

 features. The nostrils are ])erfectly 

 free from any overhanging feathers or luistles. The ])ointed wings, with 

 the first quill longest, or nearly equal to second, and tiie tail with its broad 

 rounded feathers, shorter than the wings, are additional features to be 

 specially noted. 



Molothrus pfcorix. 



VOL. II. 



20 



