V 



ICTERID^, AMERICAN STARLINGS. GEN. 88, 89. 155 



applied by some to this bird, by others to the Carolina rail, is a strange 

 misnomer, the ortolan being a fringilline bird of Europe. In the West 

 Indies, where the present species retires in winter, it is called "butterbird." 

 VYiLS., ii, 48, pi. 12, f. 1, 2 ; Nutt., i, 185 ; Aud., iv, 10, pi. 211 ; Bd., 



522 ORYZIVORUS. 



0,P QoiArtfW.''*- J88. Genus MOLOTHRUS Swainson. 



Ooivhird. $ iridescent black, head and neck purplish-brown ; 7J-8 ; 

 wing over 4; tail over 3. ? 7-7 J ; wing 3| ; tail 2| ; an obscure looking 

 bird, nearly uniform dusky grayish-brown, but rather paler below, and 

 appearing somewhat streaky, owing to darker shaft lines on nearly all the 

 feathers ; bill and feet black in both sexes. The young <J at first resembles 

 the 9 , but is decidedly streaked below. North America, abundant ; grega- 

 rious, polygamous, parasitic. The singular habits of this bird, probably 

 shared by others of the genus, form one of the most interesting chapters in 

 ornithology. Like the European cuclsoo, it builds no nest, laying its eggs 

 by stealth in the nests of various other birds, especially warblers, vireos and 

 sparrows ; and it appears to constitute, furthermore, a remarliable exception 

 to the rule of conjugal aifection and fidelity among birds. A wonderful 

 provision for the perpetuation of the species is seen in its instinctive selec- 

 tion of smaller birds as the foster-parents of its ofispring ; for the larger 

 eaor receives the OTcater share of warmth during incubation, aud the lustier 

 young cowbird asserts its precedence in the nest ; while the foster-birds, 

 however reluctant to incubate the strange egg (their devices to avoid the 

 duty are sometimes astonishing) become assiduous in their care of the found- 

 ling, even to the neglect of their own young. Tlie cowbird's egg is said to 

 hatch sooner than that of most birds ; this would obviously confer additional 

 advantage. — Wils., ii, 145, pi. 18, f. 1, 2, 3 ; Nutt., i, 178; Aud., iv, 

 16, pi. 212; Bd., 524 pecoris. 



/£^. Var. OBSCUEUS. Dwarf Cowbird. Similar; smaller; ^ the size of 9 pecoris; 

 5 under 7 ; wiug 3^ ; tail 2i. The difference is very strongly marked, and appar- 

 ently constant. Arizona, Lower California, and southward. Cass. Proc. Fhila. 

 Acad. 1866, 18 ; Coues, ibid., 90 ; Coop., 260. 



89. Genus AGELJEUS Vieillot. 



*^^*The <? uniform lustrous black, with the bend of the wing red; 8-9 long; 

 wing 4i-5 ; tail 3i-4. The ? everywhere streaked; above blackish-brown with 

 pale streaks, inclining on the head to form median and superciliary stripes ; below 

 whitish with very many sharp dusk}^ streaks, the sides of the head, throat, and the 

 bend of the wing, tinged with reddish or fulvous ; under 8 ; wing about 4 ; tail 3^. 

 The young ^ at first Hke the 9 , but larger, apt to have a general buffy or fulvous 

 suffusion, and bright bay edgings of tlie feathers of the back, wings and tail, and 

 soon showing black patches. — Upon investigation of the variations in the character 

 of the wing-patch, upon which our three accredited species rested, I am satisfied of 

 the propriety of treating them as varieties of one. The ? 's are iudistino-uishable. 



