MOLOTHRUS. 367 
Genus MOLOTHRUS Swainson. (Page 365, pl. CL, fig. 2.) 
Species. 
(Wo nest, but eggs deposited in nests of other species.) 
a, Culmen not more than .72; adult males with head brown. Adult males: Head, 
neck, and chest uniform brownish (varying greatly in tint); rest of plumage 
glossy black, with a greenish reflection, changing to purplish next to the 
brown of the neck, especially on upper back. Adult females: Plain brown- 
ish gray, darker on upper parts, paler on chin and throat, the feathers, 
especially on back and breast, with indistinct darker shaft-streaks. Young: 
Above dull brownish gray, the feathers bordered with pale buffy; lower 
parts dull light buffy, broadly but rather indistinctly streaked with dull 
brownish gray. 
ob. Larger: Length (male) about 7.75-8.25, wing 4.00-4.60 (4.31), tail 2.90-3.35 
(3.08), culmen .61-.72 (.66), tarsus .98-1.12 (1.05); female considerably 
smaller. Hggs .84 xX .65, dull white, greenish white, or brownish white, 
speckled or spotted, more or less densely, with brown. -Hab. United 
States and more southern British Provinces; south, in winter, to southern 
MO X1CO i eicssceccseiuccauiieesneentsedeasescedse 495. M. ater (Bopp.). Cowbird. 
b%. Smaller: Length (male) about 7.00-7.50, wing 3.70-4.15 (3.93), tail 2.85- 
3.00 (2.91), culmen .57-.63 (.60), tarsus .93-1.00 (.96); female smaller. 
Eggs .76 x .59, colored like those of Jf ater. Hab. Mexico and con- 
tiguous portions of United States, from Texas to Arizona and Lower 
California ............ 495a. M. ater obscurus (GMEL.). Dwarf Cowbird. 
a, Culmen .75, or more; adult male with head black. Adult male: Head, neck, 
(56.) 
back, and lower parts uniform glossy black, with a soft bronzy lustre, duller 
on head; lesser and middle wing-coverts, outermost scapulars, and rump 
glossed with violet; wings in general, upper tail-coverts, and tail glossy 
blue-black, changing to greenish ; iris bright red; length about 9.00-9.50, 
wing 4.60-4.80, tail 3.70-3.80, culmen .85-.90, tarsus 1.15-1.25. Young male: 
Entirely blackish, with distinct gloss only on wings, etc., the lower parts, 
back, ete., without bronzy lustre. Adult female: Above dark brownish gray, 
the feathers of back, etc., with darker, somewhat glossy centres, the wing- 
coverts, etc., with paler margins; lower parts lighter brownish gray, the 
feathers sometimes showing distinct dusky shaft-streaks; length about 
8.00--8.50, wing about 4.10, tail 3.25, culmen .75, tarsus 1.05. Hggs .91 X .72, 
plain greenish white or dull bluish white. Hab. Mexico and Central 
America, south to Panama, north to lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. 
496. M. robustus Casan. Red-eyed Cowbird, 
