ICTERIDJi; — THE OKIOLES. 225 



Pr. Bryant, who found this species the most common bird in tlie neigli- 

 borhood of Lake ^lonroe, adds tluit it could l)e seen at all times running along 

 the edge of the water, almost in the manner of a Sand])iper. They were 

 breeding by hundreds in the reeds near the inlet to the lake. On the fitli 

 of April some of the birds had not commenced laying, though the majority 

 had liatched, and the young of others were almost Hedged. 



The eggs of this species measure 1.25 inches in lengtli by .92 in breadth. 

 TLoir gi(jund-color is usmxlly a brownish-drab, in some tinged with oli\e, in 

 others witli green. Over this are distributed various markings, in lines, zig- 

 zags, and irregular blotches of browu and black. 



Quiscalus major, var. macrurus, Sw. 



OBEAT-TAILED GBAKLB. 



Quiscalus macrmirus, Swainson, Aniin. in Meimg. 2^ cpnton. 1838, 299, fig. 51, a. — Baird, 

 Birds N. Am. 1858, pi. Iviii. — lu. Mex. B. II, Birds, 20, pi. xx. — Cassi.n, Pr. A. 

 N. S. 1867, 410. Ohalcop/umes imicnirus, Cais. Mus. Ileiii. 1851, 19(5. 



Sp. CnAR. (Tlie largest species of this genu.'!.) Form loiifrtlioned but rol)u.-<t, 1)111 

 stronc, longer tli.an the head; wing long, third quill u.sually longe.st ; tail long, graduated, 

 outer feathers three to five inches shorter than those in the middle; legs and feet strong. 



AdtiU male. Black; head, neck, back, and entire under parts witli a fine bluish-purple 

 lustre ; lower part of back p.nd the upper tail-covcrts, and also the abdomen and under 

 tail-coverts, frequently with green lustre, though in specimens apparently not fully adult 

 tho.so piirts are sometimes bluish-brown, inclining to darl: steel-blue. Wings and tall 

 with a slight purpli.'^h lustre, .smaller coverts with bluish-green, and larger coverts with 

 greenish-bronze lustre. Bill and feet black. Iris yellow. Total length, 17.50 to 20.00 ; 

 wing, about 8.00; tail, 8.00 to 10.50. 



Female. Smaller, and generally resembling that of Q. major, but rather darker colored 

 above. Entire upper parts dark brown, nearly black, and witli a green lustre on the 

 back; wings and tail dull brownish-black. Under parts light, dull yellowish-brown; 

 paler on the throat, and with a triiee of a narrow dark lino from each side of the lower 

 mandible. Tibia; and under tail-covcrts dark brown. Total lengtli about 13.00; wing, 

 COO ; tall, C.50. (Cassin.) 



Hah. Eastern Texas to Panama and Carthagena. Cordova (Set. 1850, 300) ; Guate- 

 mala (Scr,. Ilns. I, 20, egg.s) , Honduias (Sci.. II, 112); Carthagena, N. 9 (C.vss. R. A. 

 S., 1860, 138); Costa Rica (Cabas. Journ. IX, 1801, 82; Lawr. IV, 104); Nicaragua 

 (Lawr. N. Y. Lye. VIII, 181); Rio Grande of Texas (Dresskr, Ibis, 18G5, 493, breeds); 

 Vera Cruz (from hot to alpine regions ; resident Sumiciirast, il. B. S. I, 553). 



Habits. The Great-tailed or Central American Gmkle is an abundant 

 species throughout Mexico and Central America, and probably extends to 

 some distance into South America. In Vera Cruz, Sumichrast states it to 

 be one of the few hirds that are found in nearly equal abundance throughout 

 the three regions, hot, temperate, and alpine, into M'hich that department is 

 pliysically divided. It is abundant cvoryAvhoro throughout that State, and 

 also nests there. In the neighborliinxl of Cordova and Orizaba it lives ir« 

 large communities, a single tree being often loaded with the nests. 



vol.. n. 29 



