ICTERID^ — THE AMERICAN ORIOLES. 313 



additional shyness of the former. Their nests vary endlessly in 

 size, from four to twelve inches in depth, although the latter size 

 is rather uncommon." 



Mr. Coale informs me that colonies nest in rushes in the Calumet 

 marshes, that they are bold and interesting, and that he has seen 

 adults on the ground along country roads, some distance from water. 



Genus AGELAIUS Vieillot. 



Agelaius 'VfEiij'LOT, Analyse, 1816.33. Type. Oriolus phaeniceus Linn. 



. "Gkn. Char. First quill shorter than second; claws short; the outer lateral scarcely 

 reaching the base of the middle. Culmon depressed at base, parting the frontal feathers j 

 length eciual to that of the head, shorter than tarsus. Both mandibles of equal thickness 

 and acute at tip, the edges much curved, the culmen, gonys, and commissure nearly 

 straight or slightly sinuated;.the length of bill about twice its height. Tail moderate, 

 rounded, or very slightly graduated. Wings pointed, reaching to end of lower tail-cov- 

 erts. Colors black with red shoulders in North American species. One West Indian 

 with orange-buff. Females streaked except in two West Indian species. 



"The nostrils are small, oblong, overhung by a membranous scale. 

 The bill is higher than broad at the base. There is no division 

 between the anterior tarsal scutellae and the single plate on the out- 

 side of the tarsus." {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



This genus is represented in eastern North America by a single 

 species, the common Eed-winged Blackbird {A phaeniceus). 



Agelaius phoeniceus (Linn.) 



EED-WINGED BLACKBIED. 



Popular synonyms. Eed-winged Starling or Blackbird; Red-and-butT- shouldered Black- 

 bird; Ked-shouldered Blackbird; Swamp Blackbird. 

 Oriolus phaniceus Linn. S. N. ed. 12. i. 1766. 161. 

 Agelaius phoeniceus Vieill. Analyse, 1816.— Aud. Synop. 1839,141; B. Am. iv, 1842, 31, 216. 

 —Bated, B. N. Am. 185S. 526; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859. No. 401.— CoUES, Key. 1872. 156; 

 Cheek List. 1874, No. 212; 2d ed. 1882. No. 316; B. N. W. 1874. 186. (part).— B. B. & R. 

 Hist. N. Am. B. ii, 1874, 159, pi. 33. figs. 1. 2,3.— Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881. No. 261. 

 Icterus phteniceus "Daud." Light. 1823.— Nutt. Man. i, 1832, 169. -AoD. Orn. Biog. 1, 

 1831.348; v. 1839. 487, pi. 67. 

 Sturnus predatorius Wu-s. Am. Orn. iv, 1811,30,pl. 30,flg. 1. 

 Has, Temperate North America, more rare on Pacific coast, where represented by 

 an allied species. A. guhernator Wagl.; north to the "Fur Countries." south, in winter to 

 Costa Rica, but wintering, more or less regularly, north to 38° or further. Bahamas, but 

 not in Cuba, where represented by A. assimilis. Accidental in England. 



Sp. Chab. Adult male. Uniform deep black.the lesser wing-coverts brilliant scarlet, 

 the middle wing-coverts buff or ochraeeous. Bill and feet deep black, iris brown. Total 

 length (fresh), about 9.00-9.50 inches; extent. 14.50-15.75. Adult female. Above dusky 

 grayish brown, the feathers narrowly edged with light gfayisb, rusty, etc.; beneath 



