IS8 



NORTH AMKIUCAN BlltDS. 



Crotophaga ani, I.inn. 



THE ANI; THE SAVANNA BLACKBIBD. 



CroloplnKja ani, LlNX. Syst. Nat. I, 17(>l>, ir.4. — nrKMiasTi'.n, Th. Hras. (Viifjd.) ISnfi, 

 •2:,i. — liAiiM), llinls X. Am. IS.W, 72, iil. lxx.\iv, I'. 2. -C.viiam.s Mus. Ili'iii. iv, 

 10(1. ('rcl'i/i/iinj'i miiiiii; lil'.ss. Tiviitc Orii. 1S:!1, 13(1, Crnlophiiija hrviivxlni, SwAls- 

 SON, All. ill Mi'imi,'. 2] ('.'iit. 18:!.s, 321. ('i;<li<i>hiiijii niijiiwfni, Swainscin, 2.t Cent. 

 1838, 321, li",'. C's bill. — HruM. Th. linis. 11, 1850, 23;'.. — 15a lit d, I'.iids N. Am. 

 ISr.S, 71, 1>1. Ixxxiv. f. 1. 



Sp. Char. Bill at tin" uo.^trils iicrtily twiw as liisrh a-s l)ioa<l ; the nostrils elliptical, a 

 little oblique, situated in the inidiUe of the lower half of the upper inandi. le. Gonys 



nearly striiiirht. Iiulieations of 

 faint transverse wrinkles alonif the 

 upper portion of the bill, nearly 

 porpenilieiilar to the cn'.ir.eu. Leiis 

 stout; liusus loiitrer than niiddlo 

 toe, with seviMi broad seutelhu 

 anteriorly exteiidin<; round to the 

 middle of each side ; the remain- 

 iiisx or posterior portion of each 

 side with a series of (piadrangular 

 pliiics, eorrespondinp; lu-arly to the 

 anterior ones, the series meeting 

 bi'hind in a sharp rid,E;e. The 

 wings reach over the basal third 

 of the tail. The ]iriinary (piills arc 

 broad and aeute. the Ibnrtli longest ; the first about equal to the tertials. The tail is 

 frradualeil, the outer alioiit an inch .ind a half shorter than the middle ones. 



The color generally is lilack. with steel-blue rellections above, changing sometimes into 

 violet; duller beneath. The pointed feathers of the head, neck, and breast, with a bronzy 

 metallic border, appcai'ing also to some extent on the wing-coverts and upper part of 

 liack. Iris brown. Length, l.'J.liO ; wing, (i.OO ; tail, 8.30: tarsus, l.t.*^. 



Hai!. West Indies; 8outh Florida. Accidental near Phihulel|)hia. Localities: Sta. 

 Cru/, (Nkwtox, Ibis, I, 118). 



As iili'oady remarked, we do not find roa.soii to admit more than one 

 .sjH'eie.s uf Crotopliaijit in tlie United States and the We.st Indies, as in the 

 <,'reat variation in size, and to some extent in shape of hill, there is nothing 

 constant. The species can hardly ho considered more than a straggler in 

 the United States, although a considcrahle ntimher of s|H!cim('iis hiive heeii 

 .seen or taken within its limits. That in the Smith.sonian collection was 

 killed on the Tortiigas ; hut there is one in the collection of the Philadelphia 

 Academy, killed near rhiladel}ihia hy Afr. John Kriiler, and iiresented by 

 him. Mr. Aiidiilton also po.ssesse(l a jniir saiil to Imve been killed near New 

 Orleans. 



1IAI1IT.S. This species, the common Savanna Blackbird of the West India 

 IsLinds, is jiroludily oidy an accidental visitant of the United States, and 

 may not strictly belong to the iivi-faiina of Xorth An»erica. 



Crnlophnsn ani. 



