158 Howell and van Rossem, Red^winged Blackbirds. lAprli 



Svbspecific characters. — Compared with Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus 

 of northeastern United States: Coloration of females darker, both above 

 and below, particularly on the rump ; general tone of upper parts in breeding 

 plumage fuscous-black, with median crown stripe and buffy edgings on 

 nape and interscapular region nearly obsolete; groimd color of under 

 parts less buffy (more whitish), the dark streaks broader and averaging 

 more blackish; wing and tail sUghtly shorter; bill sUghtly more slender 

 in lateral profile. Compared with A. p. mearnsi: Coloration of females 

 throughout very much more blackish (less brownish), the brown and 

 buff edgings to the feathers of the head, nape, interscapular region, and 

 wings very much reduced; streaks on under parts decidedly more blackish, 

 the ground color less buffy (more whitish); bill shorter, and thicker at 

 base; wing averaging slightly longer. 



Remarks. — This subspecies, the darkest of all the eastern races, 

 apparently ranges little, if any, above the tidewater region. It 

 appears to be more closely related to phoeniceus than to mearnsi 

 or msgafotamus,^ but material is lacking to show with certainty 

 the area of intergradation with any of these races. 



The birds from Whitfield, Florida are not typical; 3 females 

 taken February 13, 14, and March 21 agree with littoralis in color 

 but have slenderer bills, thus indicating approach to mearnsi; 

 the four males (taken December 30, February 24, March 18 and 

 23) seem to be typical littoralis; one female, taken February 19, 

 is apparently a transient, nearest to phoeniceus in characters. 



The large series from Gueydan, Louisiana, including both 

 breeding and wintering individuals, are not typical, being slightly 

 paler both above and below, but agreeing in measurements and 

 proportions with typical littoralis. 



Specimens examined. — ^Total number, 67, from localities as 

 follows: 



Florida: Whitfield, 3; Santa Rosa Island, 6; Pensacola Bay, 8. 



Alabama: Mobile, 2. 



Mississippi: Bay St. Louis, 3; Jefferson Parish, 1. 



Louisiana: Breton Island, 3; Bel Air, 3; Lake Borgne, 1; Tim- 

 balier Island, 1; Morgan City, 2; Avery Island, 5; Gueydan, 28. 



Texas: Galveston, 1. 



• Oberholser, WUson Bull., vol. 31, p 20, March, 1919; from southern Texas 

 and northeastern Mexico. 



