THE RICE-BIRD.— BOB-O-LINK. 15 



The Red Maple. 



Acer rubrum, Willd., Sp. Plant., vol. iv. p. 984. Pursh, Flor. Amer., vol. i. p. 265. 

 Mich., Arb. Forest.de 1'Amer. Sept., vol. ii. p. 210, pi. 14. — Octandria Monogynia, 

 Linn. — AcerinejE, Juss. 



This species, which is known by the names of red maple and sioamp 

 maple, is distinguished by its five-lobed or three-lobed leaves, which are 

 coi-date at the base, unequally and deeply toothed, and glaucous beneath; its 

 sessile umbels, elongated pedicels, and smooth germens. The flowers and 

 seeds are red. It is very extensively distributed, and in the swamps of 

 Pennsylvania and New Jersey attains a height of from sixty to eighty feet. 

 When young, the bark is smooth, and covered with large white spots, but it 

 ultimately cracks and becomes brown. The wood is hard and close, and 

 takes a good polish. It is extensively used for various purposes. 



Genus II.— MOLOTHRUS, Swains. COW-BIRD. 



Bill rather short, very stout, moderately compressed, conical; upper man- 

 dible with the dorsal line slightly convex, its ridge flattened for half its 

 length, afterwards narrow, sides convex, edges direct, tip rather acute; lower 

 mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal outline ascending, 

 straight, sides erect and convex, edges involute, tip acute; gap-line gently 

 ascending for a third of its length, afterwards direct. Nostrils small, ellip- 

 tical. Plumage blended, glossy. Wings rather long, pointed, the second 

 quill longest, the first almost equal. Tail of moderate length, the feathers 

 broad and rounded. 



