202 



NORTH AMKIUCAN BrRDS. 



tracing's of tlurk umlwr-brnwn, (li'cpcniiii,' almost into l)la('k, hut novcr so 

 deep as in tliii v^'^s tit' tlu^ eastern s[ieeios. Tiieso niarlilin^'s vary constantly 

 and in a reniarkalilo dc^'reu ; in sonic tlioy are almost entirely wantinj,'. They 

 measnre .1)0 of an inch in len.^th hy .('i.'t in lireatltli. 



SunFAMiiA QUISCALINiE. 



C'lrvi!. Bill rather attenuated, as long as or longer than the iicad. Tlic ciilmpn curved, 



the tip nuuii hoiil down. The 

 cutting edges inllectcd so as 

 to impart a soinewiiat tulnilar 

 a|ipeaianeo to oai'h niandihlc. 

 Tlio uoniiiiissuie siiiiialcd. Tail 

 longei- than the wings, usually 

 niucli grachiated. Legs longer 

 tiian tlie head, fitted lor walk- 

 ing. Color of males entirely 

 l)laek with lustrous reflections. 



ScoUcnphttiiiis fnntsiineiis. 



The l)ill of the Quisca- 

 linw is very different from 

 that of the other Jrtcridc; and is readily rec(),i,'nized by the tendency to a 

 roundino- inward alony' the cntting ed^es, rendcrinj^' the width in a croiss 

 section of the hill considerably less alon<^' the commissure than above or 

 below. The culmen is more curved than in the Aycluinm. iUl the North 

 American species have the iris white. 



The only genera in the United States are as follows; — 



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

 hcail. 

 Quiscalus. Tail longer tlian the wings ; nmcli graduated. Bill as long as or longer 



than the head. 



Genus SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swai.vson, 



Scokcophngus, Swai.n'son, V. Uor.-Ani. II, 1831. (Type, Oriolus fcrriKjineics, G.mf.mn.) 



Gi:x. CiiAK. Bill short(!r than the head, rather slender, the edges inflexed as in 

 QitisriiliiK, which it othci-wiso greatly resend)les ; Ihe eonniiissnro sinuated. CnlmtMl 

 I'onndi'd, hut not flattened. Tarsi longer than the middle too. Tail even, or slightly 

 rounded. 



The fibove characteristics will readily distinguish the £;enus from its allies. 

 The form is much like that of Jf/r/ai)is. The bill, however, is more attenu- 

 ated, the culmen curved and .slightly sinuated. The bend at the ba.se of the 

 commissure is .shorter. The culmen is angidar at the base posterior to the 

 nostrils, instead of being much flattened, and does not extenil so far behind. 

 The two North American species may be distinguished as follows: — 



