158 



XOKTll AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Agelaius phaniceus. 



r.ENus AGELAIUS, Vikuj.. 



Jfjchiim, ViKlLLoT, "Analyse, ISltJ." (Type, Oriolus pha'iiiceun, L.) 



Oks. CllAU. First quill shorter tliuii scuoiid ; uliiws short; the outer lateral scarcely reach- 

 ing the base of the middle. 

 C'ulnien dei)resse(l at base, 

 parting the frontal feathers ; 

 length equal to that of the 

 head, shorter than tarsus. 

 Both niandililes of equal 

 thicivness and acute at tip, the 

 edges much curved, the eul- 

 nien, gonys, and commissure 

 nearly straight or slightly 

 sinuated ; the length of bill 

 about twice its height. Tail 

 moderate, i-ounded, or very 

 slightly graduated. Wings 

 pointed, reaching to end of 

 lower tail-coverts. Colors black with red shoulders in North American species. One 

 West Indian with orangc-bufi'. Females streaked except in two West Indian species. 



The nostrils are small, oblon.!,', overlinnj,' by a membranous scale. The 

 bill is higher than broad at the base. 

 There is no division between the {interior 



tarsal scutella> and the single i)late on ^M^y^l^H^^^^^^ ) 

 the outside of the tarsus. ^"^^Kr^^^^^^^^^^r \/f^ 



The females of two West Indian 

 species are uniform black. Of these 

 the male of one, A. r^s•.s•/»^//^s of Cuba, 

 is undistingnishable from that of A. 

 pJioniicfus; and in fact we may without 

 improijriety consider the former as a 

 melanite race of the latter, the change 

 ai)i)reciable only in the female. The 



A. h Ktnc rails, ahii of Cuba, is smaller, Meiaws phanieew. 



awl black, with the lesser covorts brownish orange-butf. 



Species and Varieties. 



C0M.MON CnAHACTERS. Mn/es glossy black without distinct liluish lustre, lesser 

 wing-covcrts bright red. Females without any red, and either wholly black or 

 variegated with light streaks, most coispicuous below. 



A. phcsniceua. Tail ronndi'd. Red of sl.o.ililcn a bright scarlet tint, 

 liliick of plumage without lilui.«h luslrc. Feiiuiles with wing-coverts edged 

 with brownish, or without any light edgings at all. 

 a. Female continuous deep black, unvariegated. 



