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CRIMSON-WINGED TROOPIAL. 



Icterus gubernator. 



Of this species, whicli appears to be abundant about the Columbia 

 River, I have received two specimens from Dr Townsend, who pro- 

 cm-ed them there. Having seen individuals from Mexico, I think it 

 probable that it returns to that country to spend the winter. Of its 

 habits however I regret that I am entirely ignorant. 



Icterus gubernator, 

 PsAROconus GUBERNATOR, WaglsT. 



Adult Male. Plate CCCCXX. Fig. 1. 



Bill shorter than the head, conical, straight, stout, compressed to- 

 ward the end, tapering to a fine point ; upper mandible with the dorsal 

 line nearly straight, being a little convex at the base, the ridge a little 

 flattened toward the base, where it runs into a short tapering process, 

 the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip slightly depressed ; lower 

 mandible higher at the base than the upper, with the angle rather short 

 and wide, the sides rather flat and inclined inwards at the base, con- 

 vex toward the end, the edges inflected, the tip acute ; the gape-line 

 straight, but at the base deflected. Nostrils oval, in the fore part of 

 the short nasal depression. 



Head of moderate size, ovate, with the forehead flattened; neck short ; 

 body moderately stout. Feet of ordinary length ; tarsus rather stout, 

 compressed, with seven large anterior scutella, of which the upper are 

 blended, the two lateral plates meeting at an acute angle behind ; toes 

 rather large, compressed ; the first much stronger, the outer a little 

 shorter than the inner ; claws large, arched, compressed, laterally 

 grooved, very acute. 



Plumage soft, blended, glossy, the feathers ovate and rounded; 

 those on the fore and upper parts of the head standing erect, so as to 

 present a velvety surface. Wings rather long, the second quill longest, 

 but exceeding the third only by half a twelfth, the first shorter than 

 the fom-th ; the secondaries broadly rounded ; the second, third, fourth, 

 and fifth primaries cut out on the outer web toward the end. Tail of 



