280 AVES : PASSERES. — XLVI. 
889. S. cyanocephalus (Wagler). BreweEr’s BLacksirp. ¢ 
black with green lustre, head glossed with violet; 9 dusky. L. 10. 
W. 5}. T. 43. W. N. Am., straying E. to Ill. (xdavos, blue; 
keadn, head.) 
470. QUISCALUS Vieillot. (From the bird’s note.) 
890. Q. quiscula (L.). Crow Buacxksirp. PurpLe GRACKLE. 
Iridescent black, lustre on head purplish, on body bronzy. L. 13. 
W. 53. T. 54. E. U.S., abundant; now divided into the typical 
variety, chiefly S. of N. Y. and E. of Alleghanies, and var. eneus 
Ridgway, the common form N. and W., the latter with the body 
with uniform bronze lustre, without. mixed tints, this color abruptly 
defined against the iridescent violet of the neck. Var. quiscula is 
nearly uniform iridescent. 
891. Q. major Vieillot. Boat-TamLep GrackLe. Iridescent 
green and blue. Larger. L.17. W. 74. T.74. Va. to Texas 
and 8. 
Famity CLXVI. FRINGILLIDAS.! (THe Fincues.) 
Primaries 9, the first being obsolete. Bill “ conirostral,” mostly 
shorter than head, robust, of a conical form, with the commissure 
more or less abruptly angulated near its base; in other words, the 
“corners of the mouth drawn down.” This feature is usually 
strongly marked, and it is almost the only special character per- 
taining to all the members of the family. Even this is also shared 
by the Icteride, which, however, may generally be distinguished by 
the greater length and slenderness of the bill. Nostrils high up, 
exposed or (in northern species) partly covered by a ruff of small 
1 Sundevall and Stejneger have placed the Fringillide at the end or head of the 
series of birds, for reasons which seem to me sufficient ones. ‘‘In order to find out 
the most specialized form of the Passeres, we must look for the bird which is most 
specialized in all directions, not only as to the coloration of its plumage, or the 
fusion of its tarsal covering. The ideally highest form... would have booted 
tarsi, 9 primaries, long mandibular symphysis, powerful bill for grain crushing, a 
digestive system adapted for grain-feeding, and the coloration of young and adult 
unspotted and similar. That this is the regular course and ultimate end of the evo- 
lution among the higher birds is evident from the fact that we can trace it in nearly 
all the groups, and in the individual development of the birds possessing these 
characters.” (Stejneger.) 
Acting on this principle, Stejneger selects as the highest or most specialized bird 
the Evening Grosbeak. ‘‘ The number of its primaries is reduced to 9, the inandibn- 
lar symphysis is well developed, the palatine and facial part of the skull is highly 
specialized, and so is the digestive canal. Furthermore the plumage of the young is 
essentially like that of the adults.” It fails, then, in only one respect, — its tarsus 
is not booted. : 
In most recent American systems, however, the Turdide are placed at the head 
of the list ; and as the A. O. U. has adopted this arrangement it is retained here, 
the “ post of honor” being given to the beautiful Arctic Bluebird rather than to the 
Evening Grosbeak, although the latter has certainly the better claim. 
