On the Genus Icterus of M. Brisson. 193 



Tanagra Bonariensis. Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 898. sp. 38. Le Tan- 



gavio. PI. Enl. 710. Violet Tanager. Lath. Gen. Syn. Vol. 



in. p. 222. sp. 9.— Vol. VI. p. 29. sp. 34. Ed, 2''». 

 Fringilla pecoris. Gmel. Syst. Vol. I. p. 910. sp. 62. Lath. 



Ind. Orn. p. 443. sp. 28, Emberiza pecoris. Wils. Am. 



Orn. Vol. II. p. 145. pi. 18. f. 1, 2, 3. Le Pinson de Vir- 



ginie. Briss. Orn. Tom. III. p. 165. sp. 41. Le Brunet. 



Buff. Tom. IV. p. 138. Troupiale de la Caroline. PI. Enl. 



606. f. 1. Cowpen Bird. Cat. Car. Vol. I. pi. 34. Cowpen 



Finch. Lath. Vol. III. p. 269. sp. 24. 

 Emberiza oryzivora. Linn. Syst. Vol. I. p. 311. sp. 16. Lath. 



Ind. Orn. p. 408. sp. 30. fVils. Am. Orn. Vol. II. p. 48 



pi. 12. f. 1,2. L'Ortolan de La Caroline. Briss. Tom. III. 



pi. 15. f. 3. L'Agripenne, ou I'Ortolaa de riz. Buff. Tom. 



VIL p. 357. Ortolan de la Caroline. PL Enl. 2SS. f. 1. 



Rice Bunting. Cat. Car. Vol. I. t. 14. Reed Bird. Edw. 



t. 291. f. sup. 

 This last bird has a peculiarity in the shafts of its tail feathers, 

 which, being stronger than usual, and prolonged beyond the 

 webs, seem to carry to the extreme a character which is obser- 

 vable in some of the species of Le'istes. The birds of this species 

 use their tails * after the manner of the Woodpeckers, in assisting 



* See WiLsov. Am. Orn. Vol. II. p. 54. There is a species which has 

 been described by Gmehn, under the name of Oriolus caudacutus, [Syst. Vol. I. 

 p. 394. sp. 49.] and figured by Dr. Latham as the Sharp-tailed Oriole, [Gen. 

 Si/n. Vol. II. pi. 17.] which from the description and figure given of it ap- 

 pears at first sight to be nearly connected with the Emberiza Oryzivora, and 

 to be referable to the same group. But this species proves on more intimate 

 knowledge to be the Fringilla caudacuta, or Sharp-tailed Finch, of the " Ameri- 

 can Ornithology," and to occupy a very distinct station among the Coni- 

 rostres, in the family of FringillidcB, where in conjunction with another species 

 described in the same work, the Fringilla maritima, Wils., it offers very dis- 

 tinguishing generick peculiarities, both in its habits and external characters. 

 The relation however between the Emberiza oryzivora, Linn., and these last 

 mentioned birds is strongly analo-iical ; as may be seen by a reference to Mr. 

 Wilson's account of the climbing manners of these birds. [See^m. Orn. ubi sup. 

 and Vol. IV. pp. 68. 70.] Itake this opportunity of observing that there are many 

 other species referred by systematick writers to the Linnean genus OrioJ«s,which 

 neither accord with the true Orioles, nor with the Uteri of M. Brisson which 

 Vol. II. N 



