484 ICTEEED^* 



markings are principally of a dark brown, and are distributed in the shape of drops or 

 irregular patches and undulating lines; intermingled with these dark markings are 

 others of purplish brown, 



Mr. Gaumer has recently sent us a series of specimens from Ruatan Island, and also 

 from Mugeres Island, off the coast of Yucatan, and we note that females from these 

 places are rather darker than is usual in individuals of the same sex from the mainland ; 

 the males do not differ in colour, but they are perhaps a trifle smaller. It is said that 

 these birds are polygamous, and the great difference in size between the sexes supports 

 this view ; but we have no direct evidence on this point. 



2. Quiscalus graysoni. 



Quiscalm graysoni, Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 157^; Cat, B. Brit. Mus. xi. p. 397^ 



Quiscalus palustris, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 411'. 



Quiscalus major, var. palustris, Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N, H, ii. p. 282 *. 



Praecedenti persimilis quoad corporis colores, Bed multo minor. Long, tota 14*0, alse 6"4, caud% rect. med. 6"7, 



rect. lat. 4*4, rostri a rictu 1"5, tarsi 1-8. 

 5 . Long, tota 10-6, alae 5-3, caudse rect. med. 4-8, rect. lat. 3-4, rostri a rictu 0"9, tarsi 1*5. (Descr. maris 



et feminsB ex Mazatlan, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



Eab. Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson ^ \ Forrer ^ ^). 



This is the bird considered by Cassin to be the species described by Swainson as 

 Quiscalus palustris ; but this identification was questioned by Mr. Sclater, and we think 

 rightly so. It is exceedingly closely allied to Q. macrurus, but its smaller size and 

 much shorter tail perhaps sufficiently distinguish it. Grayson says of it, that it is very 

 common in the coast-region of Mazatlan, where it is seen in flocks frequenting the 

 marshes on the esteros or creeks in search of small crabs and water-insects. Many of 

 them, however, take up their abode in towns and villages and become very docile ; they 

 are there attracted by the grains of waste maize and the refuse crumbs and meat thrown 

 from the dwellings. In the town of San Bias they are so numerous and domestic as to 

 be a nuisance, often entering the houses and carrying off whatever kind of provision 

 they can find, meat as well as grain. At the hotel where he was stopping in that tovra 

 it was necessary to keep a servant watching the table whilst the meals were being 

 prepared to keep them from demolishing the tortillas and beans. In the city of 

 Mazatlan about twenty congregated in front of his window to receive their daily bread, 

 a few crumbs of which he used to throw to them every morning. 



They always build their nests in communities, selecting a grove of ordinary sized 

 trees, usually near some freshwater lagoon, and sometimes in the trees that ornament 

 the dwellings of the natives. The nests are placed in the topmost branches, and are 

 composed of coarse grass and roots externally and plastered inside with cowdung or 

 mud. The eggs are usually five, of a pale blue colour, with numerous zigzag marks 

 of black 4. 



