346 BREWER'S BLACKBIRD. 



and longing for a farther removal northward. On the ground their gait is 

 easy and brisk, and I never heard them sing, but simply emit a cluck not 

 unlike that of the Common Red-winged Starling, between which and Quis- 

 calus ferrugineus I would place them. Their bill is not so stout as that of 

 the former, but more so than that of the latter. The shape of the wings and 

 tail of this species differ materially from those of the Rusty Grackle; the first 

 by its being longer, sharper, and having the first quill longest, and the tail 

 being much more rounded. In the general colour those two species might 

 agree better; but in the Q. Brewerii, the metallic resplendence is uniformly 

 more brilliant, purple and blue, instead of being steel blue and green; it 

 never shows the brownish edges of the feathers that are regularly attendant 

 on those of the Rusty Grackle. 



I think it almost superfluous to add that I have named this species after 

 my friend Thomas M. Brewer, Esq.; having so often mentioned his 

 name when he was actively engaged in the study of ornithology, and my 

 works containing numerous evidences of the assistance he has rendered both 

 to science and to myself. 



Brewer's Blackbird, Quiscalus Brewerii, Aud. 



10, 16*. 



Found on the Upper Missouri river, and Yellow Stone, &c. 



The old male measures from the point of the bill to end of tail 10 inches; 

 alar extent 16i; wing from flexure 5i; bill along the ridge f, along the gap 

 ^-. The first quill is decidedly the longest, the second and third shorter, and 

 the rest rapidly decreasing. The bill and feet black, irides pale yellow. 

 Tarsus 1^; hind toe ^, its claw § ; middle toe f, its claw i. 



The general colour is deep glossy black, with rich purple reflections on 

 the head, cheeks and lower sides of the neck; after which the reflections are 

 first blue, and afterwards green. The lower parts are slightly glossed with 

 green. Tail 4 inches. 



The female is somewhat smaller and duller in all its tints. Bill to end of 

 tail 9|- inches; wing from flexure 4^-. 



