28 RED-AND-WHITE-WINGED TROOPIAL. 



from the prying eyes of the lurking savage. The night is past, the dawn 

 smiles upon the refreshed travellers, who launch their frail bark; and as they 

 slowly float on the stream, both listen attentively to the notes of the Red- 

 and-White-winged Troopial, and wonder how similar they are to those of 

 the "Red-winged Starling:" they think of the affinities of species, and 

 especially of those of the lively birds composing this beautiful group. 



This beautiful species was discovered in Upper California by my friend 

 Thomas Nuttall, Esq., from whom I received the specimen represented 

 in the plate, together with the following account. "Flocks of this vagrant 

 bird, which, in all probability, extends its migrations into Oregon, are very 

 common around Santa Barbara in Upper California, in the month of April. 

 Their habits are similar to those of the Red-winged Starling, (Jlgelaius 

 phceniceus,) but they keep in large flocks apart from that species, which also 

 inhabits this country as well as Mexico. They are seldom seen but in the 

 near suburbs of the town, feeding at this time almost exclusively on the 

 maggots or larvae of the blow-flies, which are generated in the offal of the 

 cattle constantly killed around the town for the sake of the hides. In large 

 whirling flocks they are seen associated with the Cow-birds, Common 

 Grakles, Red-wings, and a small species with an orange-yellow head, flitting 

 about in quest of food, or perching on the orchard trees in the town, where 

 they keep up an incessant chatter and discordant confused warble, much more 

 harsh or guttural than the note of the Cow T -bird. They are also common 

 around Monterey. With the female, and the circumstances of breeding, I 

 am not acquainted." 



Red-and-white-winged Troopial, Icterus tricolor, And. Orn. Biog-., vol. v. p. 1. 



Male, 9; wing, 5. 



North California. Abundant. Migrator) 7 . 



Adult Male. 



Bill nearly as long as the head, conical, straight, moderately stout, tapering 

 to a fine point; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, being a 

 little convex at the base, the ridge a little flattened toward the base, where 

 it runs into a short tapering process, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, 

 the tip a little depressed; lower mandible higher at the base than the upper, 

 with the angle rather short and wide, the sides rather flat at the base, convex 

 toward the end, the edges inflected, the tip acute; the gap-line straight, but 

 at the base deflected. Nostrils oval, in the fore part of the short nasal 

 depression. 



Head of moderate size, ovate, with the forehead flattened; neck short; 

 body moderately stout. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus rather stout, com- 



