BULLOCK'S OEIOLE. 489 



only slightly glossy. The ground coloi' is generally of the same subtle grayish- 

 white tint as that seen in the eggs of the Baltimore Oriole, but the proportion 

 of the pale bluish white eggs is greater than with the latter. Occasionally the 

 ground color is pale Aanaeeous buflF. The markings are similar in color to those 

 found on the eggs of the preceding species, but as a rule they are not so coarse, 

 and the fine hair lines running in irregular tracings around the larger axis of 

 the egg are more prevalent ; they are also a trifle larger. 



The average measurement of one hundred and forty-four specimens in the 

 United States National Museum collection is 23.80 by 15.93 millimetres, or 

 about 0.94 by 0.63 inch. The largest egg in the series measures 25.40 by 16.76 

 millimetres, or 1 by 0.66 inch; the smallest, 21.34 by 15.24 millimetres, or 0.84 

 by 0.60 inch. 



Of the type specimens, No. 20208 (PL 7, Fig. 10), from a set of four, Bendire 

 collection, taken by the writer at Fort Lapwai, Idaho, on June 6, 1871, shows 

 the peculiar vinaceous buif ground color referred to above; No. 20211 (PI. 7, 

 Fig. 11), from a set of three, in which incubation was advanced, from the same 

 collector and place, taken June 15, 1871, represents a peculiarly shaped and 

 very handsomely marked egg; No. 20218 (PI. 7, Fig. 12), from a set of five, 

 taken by the writer at Camp Harney, Oregon, on June 10, 1877, shows some 

 unusually heavy markings; while No. 25551 (PI. 7, Fig. 13), from a set of four, 

 in the Ralph collection, taken near Brownsville, Texas, May 27, 1891, represents 

 about an average-marked egg and a rather clear ground color. 



igi. Scolecophagus carolinus (Muller). 



RUSTY BLACKBIRD. 



Turdus carolinus MxJLLER, Systema Naturje, Supplement, 1776, 140. 

 Scolecophagus carolinus EidGtWAy, Proceedings U. S. National Museum, VIII, 1885. 35G. 

 (B 417, C 221, E 273, 331, U 509.) 



Geographical range: Mainly Eastern ISTorth America; from Florida and the Gulf 

 coast north through the Eastern United States and the Domiuion of Canada to Labrador, 

 Keewatin, the Korthwest Territory and northern Alaska to the shores of Bering Sea; 

 west in the United States to Texas and the Great Plains, and occasionally to the eastern 

 slopes of the Eocky Mountains. Accidental in Lower California and in Greenland. 



The breeding range of the Rusty Blackbird, also commonly known as 

 the "Rusty Grackle," is a rather limited one within our borders. As far as 

 known it breeds only in portions of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, and 

 in the Adirondack wilderness, reaching the most southerly point of its breeding- 

 range in Herkimer County, New York, in about latitude 43°, where it is strictly 

 confined to the mountainous regions and is rather rare. Somewhat farther 

 north, in the vicinity of Big Moose Lake, Dr. C. Hart Merriam reports it as a 

 common summer resident. It may possibly breed on the west shore of Lake 

 Superior, in northeastern Minnesota, but there are no records at hand from 

 there. As one advances north into the Dominion of Canada it becomes more 



