224 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



and (except in some species) very different coloration of the sexes, 

 there is greater resemblance to Megaquiscalus than to Quiscahis, but 

 the points of difference from the former are sufficiently numerous. 

 The tail is relatively shorter and far less graduated than in Mega- 

 quiscalus, the difference in length between lateral and median rectrices 

 amounting to little, if any, more (usually less) than one-fourth of the 

 length of the middle rectrices, instead of between one-third and one- 

 half their length; the tarsus is shorter compared with the middle toe; 

 the inner webs of the primaries much broader in the middle or just 

 beyond the middle portion, the eighth, seventh, sixth, and fifth having 

 their inner webs much broader at that portion immediately preceding 

 the sinuation.' 



On the whole, Iloloquiscalus may be considered as a fairly well 

 characterized genus, in some respects intermediate in structure between 

 Quiscalus and Megaquiscalus, but much nearer to the latter, and nearly 

 connected with it by the more or less intermediate southern species of 

 the two groups {H. Itigubris, H. irisularis, and M. nicarag^iensis). 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OP HOLOQUISCALUS. 



a. Color uniform black (with or without violet, bluish, or greenish gloss). 

 h. Wing more than 109 mm. (or else culmen, from base, more than 27.9). 

 c. Wing not less than 147. 

 rf. Head, nect, and body distinctly glossed with violet, the wings and tail 

 with bluish green; bill strongly decurved at tip. 

 e. Culmen, from base, 35.6-40.6 (averaging 37.3), the bill more slender; 

 violet gloss more distinct. (Cuba.) 



Holoqniscalns gundlachii, adult male (p. 226) 



ee. Culmen, from base, 33-35.6 (averaging 34.5), the bill stouter; violetgloas 



less distinct. (Jamaica. ) .Holoqniscalus jamaicenais, adult male (p. 227) 



dd. Head, neck, and body with very faint or scarcely perceptible violet gloss; 



wings and tail without distinct, if any, greenish gloss; tip of bill very 



slightly decurved. (Haiti.) Holoquiscalua niger, adult male (p. 228) 



cc. AVing not more than 134.6. 

 d. Plumage not distinctly, if at all, glossed. 

 e. Culmen, from base, 32.5 or more. 



Holoquiscalns gundlachii, adult female (p. 226) 

 ee. Culmen, from base, not more than 30.8. 

 /. Bill stouter, distinctly decurved at tip. 



ff. Wing, 127.5-130 Holoquisoalus jamaiceusis, adult female (p. 227) 



(jg. Wing, 108.7-116.3. . .Holoquiscalua brachypterua, adult female (p. 227) 

 ff. Bill more slender, very slightly decurved at tip. 



Holoquiacalua niger, adult female (p. 228) 

 dd. Plumage distinctly glossed with violet or bluish (more greenish on wings 

 and tail), 

 e. Wings glossed, more or less, with greenish; culmen decidedly decurved 

 terminally. 



' This character is not entirely diagnostic, a single species of Megagumalus [M. 

 nicaraguemis) having the inner webs of the longer primaries of exactly the same 

 shape, even to a greater degree, while one species of Holoquisccdus (H. lugubris) has 

 the inner webs of normal form, as in Quisccdus and typical Megaquiscalus. 



