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V. ii'' 



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156 ICTEEIDiE, AMERICAN STARLINGS. GEN. 89, 90. 



Red-ivinged Blackbird. (plate iv, all the figs.) Lesser wing coverts 

 scarlet, broadly bordered by brownish-yellow, or brownish-white, the middle 

 row of coverts being entirely of this color ; sometimes the greater row, 

 likewise, are mostly similar, producing a patch on the wing nearly as large 

 as the red one ; occasionally, there are traces of red on the edge of the wing 

 and below. In some Eastern specimens the bordering is almost pure white. 

 United States from Atlantic to Pacific, very abundant. WiLS., iv, 30, 

 pi. 30; NuTT., i, 167 ; AuD., iv, 31, 216 ; Bd., 526. . . phceniceus. 



Var. GUBEENATOK. Lcsser wing coverts scarlet, narrowly or not at all bordered, 

 the next row having black tips for all or most of their exposed portion, so that the 

 brownish-yellow of their bases does not show much, if any. Pacific Coast. Nutt., 

 1, 2d ed., 187 ; Aud., iv, 29, pi. 215 ; Bd., 529 ; Coop., 263. 



Var. TKicoLOE. Lesser wing coverts dark red, bordered with pure white. 

 California. Kgtt., i, 2d ed., 186 ; Aud., iv, 27, pi. 214 ; Bd., 530 ; Coop., 265. 



/ 



90. Genus XANTHOCEPHALUS Baird. 



\ -' Yelloiv-lieaded BlacMnrd. $ black, whole head (except lores), neck and 

 upper l.)reast yellow, and sometimes yellowish feathers on the belly and legs ; 

 a largo white patch on the wing, formed by the jirimary, and a few of the 

 outer secondai}-, coverts ; 10-11; wing 5 J ; tail 4J. J aud young browuish- 



FiG. 98. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 



black, with little or no white on the wing, the yellow restricted or obscured ; 

 ? m?«c7j smaller than the $ — 9J, etc. A handsome bird, abundant on the 

 prairies and marshes from Illinois and Wisconsin, westward ; N. to 58° 

 and even Greenland {Reinhardl). Nutt., i, 176; Aud., iv, 24, pi. 213; 

 Bd., 531; Coop., 267; Coues, Am. Nat., 1870, 195. . icterocepiialus. 



