QUISCALUS. 485 



3. Quiscalus teumrostris. 



Quiscalus temirostris, Sw. An. in Menag. p. 299'; Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 424"; Cass. Pr. Ac. PhU. 

 1866, p. 411'; Scl. Ibis, 1884, p. 157, t. 5 *; Cat. B. Brit. Mus. h. p. 397'. 

 Sw. Phil. Mag. new ser. i. p, 436 ^ 



Atro-purpureus, iinioolor ; alls et cauda nitenti-nigris ; tibiis brunnesoentibus ; rostro tenui. Long, tota 13, 

 alse 6-8, caudse rect. med. 7-3, rect. lat. 4-4, rostri a rictu 1-65, tarsi 2-0. (Descr. exempl. ex Mexico. 

 Mus, Brit.) 



5 supra fasca ; dorso postico, alis et Cauda nigricantibus ; superciliis distinctis et eorpore subtus pallide brunnes- 

 centibus ; gula et abdomine medio albicantioribus ; tibiis et orisso nigrieante-fuscis ; rostro nigro, pedibus 

 nigricantibus. Long, tota 11-0, alae 5-0, caudse rect. med. 5-0, rect. lat. 3-4, rostri a rictu 1-3, tarsi 1-55. 

 (Descr. exempl. ex urbe Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



Eah. Mexico 3, near the cityi (Bullock^, Boucard^^). 



This Quiscalus appears to be confined to Central Mexico, for all the specimens we 

 have seen were obtained, we believe, in the neighbourhood of the city of Mexico itself, 

 and we agree with Mr. Sclater that it is extremely probable that Swainson applied the 

 name Scaphidurus palustris to the same bird, which he says was found frequenting the 

 marshes in the neighbourhood of Mexico. Q. palustris is the older name; but, as 

 there is some doubt as to its application, it is better to call the bird Q. tenuirostris, 

 according to recent custom, the name being very appropriate. The male of this species 

 is readily distinguishable from Q. macrurus by its slender bill. The female is still 

 more divergent, the breast being much paler than that of the female of the allied 

 species, and there is a prominent superciliary streak which is characteristic. Nothing 

 has been recorded of the habits of this species, except that it inhabits the marshes near 

 the city of Mexico. 



4. Quiscalus mexicanus. 



Quiscalus mexicanus, Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1866, p. 408 ' ; Lawr. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4. p. 24 ^ 



" Black, entire plumage of the head and body with a rich golden purple or violet lustre, especially on the neck 

 behind, and breast ; shoulders bluish purple ; wings and tail and under tail-coverts with green lustre ; the 

 upper tail-coverts also show a green lustre iu some lights, but are tinged also with purple ; bill and feet 

 black. 



■" Adult male. BUI longer than the head, thick, curved, especially in the terminal third of its length ; wing 

 moderate, second and third quills longest; tail moderate, graduated ; legs and feet strong. Total length 

 9| to 10| inches, wing 4^, tail 4| to 4| inches." 



Edb. Mexico ^ (JBruzin), Guichicovi (Sumichrast ^). 



We have not yet recognized this bird, which, according to Cassin, belongs to a 

 different section of the genus from that of which we have just been treating, as it is 

 more nearly allied to Q. lugubris than to the larger members of the genus. The type is 

 in the Museum of the Academy of Philadelphia, and formed part of a large collection 

 made in Mexico by M. Bruzin. Mr. Lawrence recognized a specimen of Sumichrast's, 

 obtained in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, as belonging to this species. 



