298 RUSTY BLACKBIRD. 



NAMES: Bullock's Oriole, California Oriole, California Hangnest, California Firebird, California Golden 

 Robin, Orange-bird. 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Xantbornus huWocAu Swains. (1827). ICTERUS BULLOCKI Bonap. (1838). 



DESCRIPTION: "Tail very slightly graduated. Upper part of the head and neck, back, wings, two central 

 tail-feathers, line from base of bill through the eye to the black of the nape, and a line from the base 

 of the bill running to a point on the throat, black. Under-parts generally, sides of head and neck, 

 forehead and line over the eye, rest of tail-feathers, rump, and upper tail-coverts, yellow-orange. A 

 broad band on the wings, involving the greater and middle coverts, and the outer edges of the quills, 

 white. Young- male with the black replaced by greenish-yellow, that on the throat persistent ; female 

 without this." (B. B. & R. II, p. 199.) 



Length, 7.50 to 8.00 inches; wing, 3.80 to 4.15; tail, 3.10 to 3.70 inches. 



Bendire's Oriole, Icterus gularis yucatanensis yon Berlepsch. This handsome 

 bird has been found by Mr. E. A. Mcllhenny on Avery's Island, New Iberia Parish, 

 Louisiana, June 3, 1893. His attention was first called to a flock of four by their un- 

 familiar w^histle, which is a soft flute-like note; this is repeated from time to time as 

 the birds move from limb to limb in search of food. On dissecting a specimen Mr. 

 Mcllhenny found a number of small green eater-pillars and several spiders, but the 

 principal food seemed to consist of the small purple figs, which w^ere just ripe. While in 

 search of food they move about exactly as the Baltimore Oriole does, swinging fi-om 

 slender, twigs head downward, looking under limbs for insects, and moving continually 

 about. He observed the remaining three birds again on June 5 in some fig trees in 

 the plantation garden. 



Several years previously this Oriole had been observed by several persons in 

 Louisiana as well as in Mississippi and from this we may infer that this beautiful 

 Oriole breeds there. Mr. Allen Mehle asserts that he has seen a flock of about two 

 hundred on his place at Mississippi City, Miss., in July 1892. 



DESCRIPTION: Head, breast, under and upper tail-coverts, orange; wings, black, with orange markings at 

 their base ; back, black from base to neck to upper tail-coverts. It is much larger than the Baltimore 

 Oriole. 



RUSTY BLACKBIRD. 



Scolecophagus carolinits Ridgway. 



The Rusty Blackbird inhabits eastern Nort^ America, west to the Plains. It 

 breeds from northern New England and northern Michigan northward, and winters in 

 large numbers in the Southern States, usually in company with Redwings, Yellow-heads, 

 and Covvbirds, remaining associated with them until the spring migration is over. I 

 have noticed in their winter home that they are fond of the company of cattle, 

 being frequently seen among the herds in the pastures. The birds are not at all shy, 

 but they never come in the towns and cities in such immense numbers as Brewer's 

 Blackbird. 



In Texas I observed them from late in November to the end of February, and in 

 Wisconsin they usually make their appearance early in April. Without lingering long 

 they pass northward. Like other Blackbirds, they often gather on an isolated tree and 

 sing. Their notes are quite agreeable and much more melodious than those of other 



