322 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



pendod from small twigs, often at the very extremity of the branches. 

 In Pennsylvania they are nsually formed externally of a peculiar 

 kind of long, tough, and flexible grass. This material is woven 

 through and thi'ough in a very wonderful manner, and with as much 

 neatness and intricacy as if actually sewed with a needle. They 

 are hemispherical in shape, open at the top, and generally about 

 lour inches in breadth, and three deep. The cavity has a depth and 

 a width of about two inches." 



Genus SCOLECOPHAGUS Swainson. 



Scolecophagus Swainson, F. Bor.-Am. ii, 1S31.494. Type, Oriolus ferrugineus Gmelin. 

 "Gen. Chak. Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, the edges inflexed as in Quis- 

 cn/us. -which it otherwise greatly resembles; the commissure sinuated. Culmen rounded, 

 but not flattened. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Tail even, or slightly rounded. 



"The above characteristics will readily distinguish this genus from 

 its allies. The form is much like that of Agelaius. The bill, how- 

 ever, is more attenuated, the culmen curved and slightly sinuated. 

 The bend at the base of the commissure is shorter. The culmen is 

 angular at the base posterior to the nostrils, instead of being much 

 flattened, and does not extend so far behind. The two North Ameri- 

 can species may be distinguished as follows : 



"S. ferrnginens. Bill slender; height at base not .4 the total length. Color of male 

 bl.-iok. with faint purple reflection over whole body; wings, tail, and abdomen glossed 

 slightly with green. Autumnal specimens with feathers broadly edged with castaneous 

 rusty. Fetnale brownish dusky-slate, without gloss; no trace of light superciliary stripe. 



'"S. oyanocephalus. Bill stout; height at base nearly .5 the total length. Color black, 

 with green reflection over whole body. Head only glossed with purple. Autumnal speci- 

 mens, feathers edged very indistinctly with umber-brown. Female dusky brown, with a 

 soft gloss ; a decided light superciliary stripe." {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



Scolecophagus carolinus (Miill.) 



KUSTY BLACKBIKD. 

 Popular synonym. Rusty Grackle. 

 Turdus carolinus Mull. Syst. Nat. Suppl. 1776. 146. 



Scolecophagus carolinus RiDGw. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1885.356. 

 Oriolus ferrugineus Gmel. S. N. 1,1788,393. 

 Gracula ferruginea WiLS. Am. Orn. iii. ISll. 41. pi. 'Jl.flg. Z. 

 Quiscalus /erruffineus Bp. 1824.— Nutt. Man. i, 1S3L'. 199.— AuD. Orn. Biog. Ii.lR34. 325; 



V. 1839, 483, pi. 147; Synop. 1839, 146; B. Am. iv, 05, pi. 222. 

 Scolecophagus ferrugineus Sw. & Rich. F. B.-A. ii, 1831. 286.— Baibd, B. N. Am. 1858, 

 551: Cat, N. Am. B. 1859. No. 417.— CouEs. Key, 1872, 159; 2d ed. 1884, 411; Cheek List, 

 1S74. No. 221: 2d ed. 1882, No. 331; B. N. W.1874, 19S.— B. B. & B. Hist. N. Am. B.ii.l874, 

 203, pi. 35, flg. 4.— RroGW. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 273. 



Hab. Eastern and northern North America, breeding from Maine to Labrador and 

 Alaska, and wintering in the eastern United States, chiefly south of 38°. 



