BIRDS — ICTERIDAE — QUISCALUS BAEITUS. 
557 
This species, now for the first time introduced into the fauna of the United States, from 
specimens collected at Key Biscayne by Mr. Wurdemann, in of April 1857 and '58, is the smallest 
of the genus within our limits. The wing and tail each are about an inch shorter than in Q. 
versicolor. The bill, however, is much longer and more slender, and the tip considerably more 
produced and decurved. The feet are stouter and much coarser, the pads of the toes very 
scabrous as if to assist in holding slippery substances, a feature scarcely seen in versicolor. 
The second and third quills are longest ; the first a little shorter only than the fourth. 
The colors are quite dissimilar to those of versicolor, a purplish violet predominating on the 
neck. The green of the back and belly is more decided as well as duller and darker than even 
in western specimens of versicolor. The gloss on the tail and most of the wings is green, not 
purplish violet. The general style of coloration is most like that of Quiscalus major, although 
the bird is much smaller. 
This species does not appear to be the Quiscalus haritus of the earlier authors, which is stated 
by Latham to be 13 inches long, the bill \\ inches, consequently much larger. The colors, too, 
are chiefly purple, not green. Q. lugubris is smaller, the bill especially ; the lustre purple, not 
green. Q. minor of Cabanis is smaller still, with a violet blue lustre. The Quiscalus haritus of 
Vieillot comes nearer to it in size of body and bill, but is also said to have the body purplish 
instead of greenish, the wing coverts greenish instead of steel blue. 
It is possible that the species may really be the Q. crassirostris of Swainson, (2J cent. 355,) 
but I cannot identify it from his description. The size is considerably smaller, while the bill is 
larger than in the Florida bird. 
The female is smaller and rather duller in plumage. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When col- 
lected. 
Whence ob- 
Collected by- 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings 
Wings. 
Remarks. 
6529 
10335 
10336 
10337 
10340 
10341 
10342 
10339 
10338 
3 
3 
Key Biscayne, Fla 
April 8,1857 
Mar. 31,1658 
April 15, 1858 
G. Wurdemann 
11.50 
11.50 
12.00 
12.00 
11.08 
11.75 
10.25 
11.12 
16.00 
15.25 
15.50 
16.50 
15.25 
16.25 
13.75 
14.50 
5.50 
5.00 
5.00 
5.12 
5 25 
5.00 
4.75 
4.75 
Bill and feet black ; iris light 
yellow 
3 
3 
3 
3 
Q 
Q 
April 22,1858 
April 9,1858 
May 18,1858 
Mar. 31,1858 
April 22,1858 
