ICTERIBM — QUISGALIN^ : CROW BLACKBIRBS. 411 



crow-like aspect ; but they are readily distinguished by several features, besides 9 instead of 10 

 primaries. The feet are large and strong, and the birds spend much of their time on the 

 ground, where they walk or run instead of advancing by leaps. Tliey generally build rudi>, 

 bulky nests, lay spotted or streaked eggs, and their best vocal efforts are hardly to be called 

 musical. The $ of all our species is lustrous black, with various iridescence, the $ merely 

 blackish, or brown and much smaller. There is only one genus (Cassidir) besides the t^vo 

 of this country ; in Scolecophagus the tail is slightly rounded and shorter than the wings ; in 

 Qiiiscahis the tail is graduated, and nearly equals or exceeds the wings. They are not specially 

 palustrine. Individuals of all the species abound, especially in the South and West ; only two 

 are common Eastern birds. 

 104. SCOLECO'PHAGUS. (Gr. aKwKrj^, gen. o-kcoXtjkos, scolex, scolecos, a worm : (payos, phagos, 

 eating.) Rusty Grackles. Thrush Blackbirds. Bill shorter or not longer tlian head, 

 slender for the subfamily, and somewhat like a robin's, for instance; culrnen little convex, if 

 any, except at the decurved tip; gonys slightly convex; cutting edges inflexed, commissure 

 little sinuated. Wings pointed, decidedly longer than the nearly even tail ; point formed by 

 the outer 4 primaries. Tail much as in Agelams in size and shape. Tarsus rather longer than 

 middle toe and claw. Lateral toes short, with moderate claws, scarcely or not reaching base 

 of middle claw. Nest in bushes. Eggs spotty, not veiny and streaky. 



Analysis of Species. 



Smaller; wing uinler .5.00. Bill slender, thrush-like, ^f greenish-black, including head. Sexes very un- 

 like : 9 quite rusLy-brown, even with chestnut ; a light line over eye ferrugineus 331 



Larger : wing 5.00 or more. Bill stouter, more blackbird-like. J* greenish-black, head more violet. 9 

 subsimilar, sooty-brown , no pale superciliary stripe cyanocejihalus .332 



331. S. ferrugi'neus. (Lat. /erra(/i«ei.(S, rust-colored ; /erri((/o, iron-rust : only applicable to 9 and 

 young.) Rusty Graokle. Thrush Blackbird. Adult ^J", in summer : One lustrous black 

 with green metallic reflections ; head not notably different from other parts in its iridescence. 

 Bill and feet black. Iris creamy or lemon. (Not ordinarily seen in the U. S. in this full dress 



— usually with some rusty.) Length 9.00-9.50; extent li. 00-1.5. 00 ; wing under .5.00 ; tail 

 4.00 or less ; bill 0.80, only about 0.35 deep at base ; tarsus 1.20; middle toe and claw less. 

 Adult 9 in summer: Slaty- blackish, duller below, with greenish reflections cliiefly on wings 

 and tail ; nearly all the upper part.s overlaid with rich rusty-brown, and under parts with a 

 paler shade of the same; inner secondaries brown-edged; a whitey-brf)wn streak over eye; iris 

 brown. Moderately smaller than the $. The young ^ at first resembles the 9i but is 

 larger, and shows more decidedly lustrous black, especially on wings and tail. As usually 

 found in flocks in the U. S., in fall, winter, and early spring, young and old of both sexes 

 are very rusty, with light hue over eye. Eastern North Amer., N. W. to Alaska; in the 

 U. S., W. to Dakota, Nebraska, etc., meeting and mixing in the fall with the next species. 

 In winter, generally dispersed over the E. U. S. ; breeds from N. New England northward. 

 Nesting and eggs like those of Xanthoceplmlus ; breeding in loose colonies, in swampy tangle ; 

 nest in bushes, of sticks and grasses mixed with mud, lined with fine grasses and rootlets ; eggs 

 usually 4, about 1.05 X 0.75, but very variable; dull greenish-1)luish or grayish-white, flecked 

 and mottled with dark ln-(]wn, but with little or no line-tracery. 



332. S. cyanoce'plialus. (Gr. Kvavos, latanos, Lat. ctjanus, blue ; Ke(f>aXri, liephale, head.) Blue- 

 headed Grackle. Brewer's Blackbird. Similar to the last, but quite a diff'erent bird. 

 Adult ^, in summer: Very lustrous green-black, as before, but with purpleand violet irides- 

 cence, especially on head, where the violet or steel-blue sheen contrasts with the geueral 

 greenish hue. BiU and feet black. Iris creamy or lemon. Larger : length averaging 10.00 



— 9.75-10.35 ; extent 16.00 or more ; wing 5.00-5.25 ; tail 4.00-4.25 ; bill 0.80, stout at base, 

 ■where about 0.40 deep — more like an abbreviated Quiscalus-\>\il than a thrush's; tarsus 1.25- 

 1.30; middle toe and claw 1.10-1.15. 9, adult, in summer: Blackish, with dull greenish 



