BIRDS — ICTEEIDAE — MOLOTHRUS. 



523 



This well known bird varies considerably in color, with differences in the maturity of plumage. 

 Sometimes the black feathers generally have yellowish margins both above and below. The 

 bill is generally bluish black, but in the specimens from Florida the lower mandible is white. 



The male maintains the black plumage for a comparatively short time. Shortly after mid- 

 summer the female dress is assumed and kept until the ensuing spring. 



List of specimens. 



MOLOTHRUS, Swainson. 



Molothriis, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 277; supposed by Cabanis to be meant for Molohrus. Type Fringilla 

 pecoris, Gm . 



Ch. — Bill short, stout, about two-thirds the length ofhead; the commissure straight, culmenand gonys slightly curved, convex, 

 the former broad, rounded, convex, and running back on the head in a point. Lateral toes nearly equal, reaching the base 

 of the middle one, which is shorter than tarsus ; claws rather small. Tail nearly even ; wings long, pointed, the first quilj 

 longest . 



The genus Molothrus has the bill intermediate between Dolichonyx and Agelaius. It has the 

 culmen unusually broad between the nostrils, and it extends back some distance into the fore- 

 head. The difference in the structure of the feet from Dolichonyx is very great. 



The genus Molothrus resembles some of the Fringillidae more than any other of the Icteridae. 

 The bill is, however^ more straight, the tip without notch ; the culmen running back further 

 on the forehead, the nostrils being situated fully one-third or more of the total length from its 

 posterior extremity. This is seldom the case in the American families. The entire absence of 

 notch in the bill and of bristles along the rictus are strong features. The nostrils are perfectly 

 free from any overhanging feathers or bristles. The pointed wings, with the first quill longest, 

 and the tail with its broad rounded feathers, shorter than the wings, are a dditional features to 

 be specially noted. 



Of several species of the genus found in the New World, but one belongs to the United States. 

 This, the well known cow bird, never incubates, but deposits its eggs in the nests of others, 

 usually smaller birds, to be hatched out by them, as is done also by the European cuckoo. One 

 at least of the South American species is known to possess the same habit, and it is probably 

 the same with all of them. 



The measurements of M. pecoris will be found with Dolichonyx. 



