BIBDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 215 



relatively larger bill and feet; but while Q. q. qukciila is so excess- 

 ively variable in coloration that scarcely two specimens are exactly 

 alike, Q. q. aglams is remarkably uniform, and the general color of 

 the back, scapulars, and under parts is always a dark bronzy green, 

 this' color being rather the exception in Q. q. quiscuin, in which more 

 purplish hues prevail. 



On account of the very slight individual variation of color in Q. q. 

 aglams and Q. q. miens and the excessive variability of Q. q. qiuscula, 

 together with the remarkable geographic distribution of the three 

 forms, which does not in the least conform to faunal areas, ^ Mr. 

 Chapman has suggested,' and well-nigh proven, that Q. quiscnUt and 

 Q. cmem are distinct species, which interbreed in the district where 

 their breeding ranges come together, the former being of "pure blood" 

 chiefly in the form known as Q. q. aglwm, Q. q. qmscula being chiefly 

 a hybrid form. My own opinion in the matter exactly coincides with 

 Mr. Chapman's; but since so many forms now ranked as subspecies 

 are similarly involved I prefer, at present, to leave the question in 

 abeyance. 



QUISCALUS QUISCULA QUISCULA (Linn^us). 

 PURPLE GRACKLE. 



Adnilt male. — Head, neck, and chest varying in color from metallic 

 reddish violet to golden green''; prevailing color of back and scapu- 

 lars varying from bronzy .purple or polished bronze to metallic olive- 

 green or bottle green, but this always more or less broken by bars 

 (mostly concealed, except on scapulars) of metallic green, blue, bronze, 

 or purple (or all these tints) ; rump varying in color from purplish 

 bronze to violet, the color usually more or less broken by admixture 

 of other metallic hues; prevailing color of wings violet or purple (the 

 primaries, primary-coverts, and alula usually more bluish, sometimes 

 bluish green); the lesser and middle coverts usually banded, more or 

 less conspicuously, with purple, blue, green, golden, etc.; tail dark 

 purple, violet, blue, or green, or (in worn or faded plumage) black 

 glossed with one of these colors; under parts (posterior to chest) me- 

 tallic purple, violet, blue, green, etc. , the color varying in different 

 parts, sometimes mixed with golden bronze; bill, legs, and feet black; 

 iris pale yellow or yellowish white; length (skins), 275.6-299.7 



' Q. q. smeus breeds from southern Texas to the Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, and 

 does not vary in coloration throughout this enormous extent of territory. 



^BuU. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., iv, no. 1, 1892, pp. 1-20. This article of Mr. Chap- 

 man's is a moat excellent one, and discusses the question of the relationship of the 

 three forms with a detail which is impossible here. It should be carefully read by 

 those who desire further information on the subject. 



'Whatever the general color of the head, neck, and chest, the anterior portion of 

 the head is usually more bluish than the posterior portion, but occasionally the neck 

 and chest are bluer than the head; the color is rarely, if ever, uniform throughout. 



