186 AGEL^US PHCENICEUS, EED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



a few feet of one's head. The animals appear to rather like the birds, 

 and suffer tliem to perch in a row upon their back-bones, doubtless find- 

 ing the scratching of their feet a comfortable sensation, to say nothing 

 of the riddance from insect parasites. 



A singular point in the history of this species is its unexplained dis- 

 appearance, generally in July, from many or most localities in which it 

 breeds. Where it goes, and' for what purpose, are unknown; but the 

 fact is attested by numerous observers. Sometimes it reappears in 

 September in the same places, sometimes not. Thus, in Northern Da- 

 kota, I saw none after early in August. 



AGEL^US PHCENICECrS, (Linn.) Vieill. (^ 

 Sed-winged Blackbird. 



a. phcenicetis. 



OHolus pJueniceus, Likx., Syst. Nat. i, 1766, 161.— Gji., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 386.— Lath., 

 Ind. Orn. i, 1790, 428. 



Agelmns phmniceus, "ViEiLi.., "Analyse, 1816."— Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxxiv, 539.— 

 Gkay, Gen. of B. ii, 347 ; List of Brit. B. 1863, 92 (said to be accidental in 

 England).— Sw. & Eicii., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 2^0.— Br., List, 1838, 30; Consp. i, 

 1850, 430.— Add., Syn. 1839, 141; B. Am. iv, 1842, 31, 216.- GiR., B. L. I. 1844, 

 141.— WOODH., Sitgr. Eep. 18.53, 80.— ScL., P. Z. S. 18.57, 205 ; 18.09, 58, 3dl ; 

 Cat. 1862, 133 (Orizaba; Guatemala).- ScL. & Salv., Ibis, i, 1859, 19 (Guate- 

 mala).- Dress., Ibis, 18U5, 492 (Texas).— Maxim., J. f. O. vi, 1858, 263.— Bd., 

 B. N. A. 1858, 526; Mex. B. Surv. ii, 1859, pt. ii, 18.— Kexx., P. R. E. Eep. x, 

 1859, iv, 30. — Bryaxt, Pr. Bost. Soc. Tii, 1859 (Biiliamas).— Coop. & Sucic, 

 N..H. Wash. Ter. 1860, 207.— Hayd., Rep. 1862, 1G9.— Cass., Pr. Phila. Aeau. 

 1866, 90.— Lawr., Ann. L;5C. X. Y. is, 1868, 104 (Costa Eica).— Sumich., Jlem. 

 Bost. Soe. i, 1869, 553 (Ori'zaba).— Coop., B. Cal. i, 1870, 261.— Trippi:, Pr. Ess. 

 Inst, vi, 1871, 117 (Minnesota).- Ai.i.EX, Bull. M. C. Z. ii, 1871, 2-^4 (Florida); 

 iii, 1872, 178 fKansas to Utah).- Stev., U. S. Geo]. Surv. Ter. 1870, J65.— 

 Merr., ma. 1872, 686.— Sxow, B. Kans. 187.3, 8.— Coies, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 

 90 (Arizona) ; Key, 1872, 156, pi. 4.— B. B. & E.,.N. A. B. ii, 1874, 159, pi. 33, f. 

 1, 2, 3; and of late authors generally. 



Icterus pk(enicni-% Daud.— Licht., Verz. 1823, No. 128.— Bp., Obs. Wils. 1825, No. 68 ; 

 Syn. 1828, 52.— NUTT., Man. i, 1832, 169.— AuD., Orn. Biog. i, 1831, 348; v, 1^39, 

 487 ; x'l. 67. 



Psarocolius plioeniceus, Wagl., Syst. Av. 1827, No. 10. 



Sturnus predatm-ius, WrLS., Am. Orn. iv, 1811, 30, pi. 30, fig. 1. 



b. assimilis. 



Agelaius assimilis, GrxDi.., J. f. 0. iv, 12 ; Pr. Bost. Soc. vi, 316 (Cuba, breeding). 

 Agelwus plioeniceus var. assimilis, B. B. &. R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 159. 



c. guhernator. 



Psarocolius guhernator, W.A-GL., Isis, 1832, 281. 



Agelaius guitrnatm, Bp., Conip. and Geog. List, 1838, 30 ; Consp. i, 1850, 430. — Aun., 

 Syn. 1839, 141 ; B. Am. iv, 1842, 29, pi. 215.— WooDn., Sitgr. Eep. 1853, 89 (Cali- 

 foruia).— ScL . P. Z. S. 1857, 127, 213 ; 1859, 365 ; Cat. 1862, 136 (Xalapa).— 

 Newis., p. E. E. Eep. vi, 1857, ^6 (California).— Bd., ibid, ix, 529.— Kbnx., Hid. 

 X, 18.59, pt. iv, 31.— Heerm., Hid. pt. vi, 53.— Coop., B. Cal. i, 1870, 263. 



Icterus guhernator, Nutt., Man. i, 2d ed. 1840, 187. 



Agelaus pJiccniceus var. guhernator, COUES, Key, 1872, 156. — B. B. & E., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 

 163, pi. 33, f. 4, 8. 



d. tricolor. 



Icterus tricolor, Nutt., Man. i, 2d ed. 1840, 186.— Atjd., Orn. Biog. v, 1839, fi, pi. 383. 



Agelwus tricolor, Bp., Comp. and Geoj;. List, 1838, 30; Consp. i, 1850, 430. — Aud., Syn. 

 1839, 141; B. Am. iv, 1842, 27, pl.214.— Woodh., Sitgr. Eep. 1853, 80.— Newb., 

 P. E. E. Eep. vi, 1857, 8G.— Bl>., ibid, ix, 1858, 530 ; Mex. B. Surv. ii, 1859, pt. ii, 

 18 (Colorado Eiver).- Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866.— Coop., B. Cal. i, 1870 265.— 

 B. B. &. R., N. A. B., ii, 1874, 165, pi. 33, f. 5, 6, 7. 



Agelaus phceniceus var. tricolor, Coues, Key, 1872, 156. 



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