For the same purpose we give in the following plate a 
figure of the female common crow blackbird, which differs 
so little from its mate (admirably represented in the third 
volume of Wilson’s “ Ornithology”), that it would be otherwise 
unnecessary. ‘This measure, we believe, will be acceptable to 
ornithologists, as it furnishes them with means of comparing 
the females of both the species in question, whence the most 
striking distinctive characters are obtained; that of one 
species differing considerably in size and colour from the 
male, while the sexes of the other are very similar in ap- 
pearance. 
Wilson having mentioned this species in his catalogue of 
land birds, evidently intended to describe and figure it; but 
this he deferred, probably, in expectation of obtaining better 
opportunities of examination, which are not so readily pre- 
sented, as the bird does not inhabit this section of the United 
States. 
It would be difficult to ascertain whether or not Linné and 
Latham have mentioned this bird in any part of their works, 
but the reader may perceive our opinion on this point by re- 
ferring to our synonyms, which, however, are given with much 
doubt, since we do not hesitate to say that those authors have 
not published any satisfactory description of this species. 
We shall not endeavour to settle the question relative to 
the species inhabiting South America, or even Mexico and the 
West Indies; but we may assert that this is the only black- 
bird found in the United States, besides those of Wilson, 
which, as is the case with all that his pencil or pen has 
touched, are established incontestably. He may occasionally 
have been mistaken as to his genera, or incorrect in a specific 
name, but by the plate, description, and history he has always 
determined his bird so obviously as to defy criticism and pre- 
vent future mistake. 
Mr Ord has published an excellent paper in the Journal of 
the Academy of Natural Sciences, proving the existence, in 
the United States, of two allied species of crow blackbird, in 
192 GREAT CROW BLACKBIRD. 
