ICTEMIDu^ — QUISCALINJE: CROW BLACKBIRDS. 
411 
crow-like aspect ; but they are readily distinguished by several features, besides 9 instead of 10 
primaries. The feet are large and strong, and the birds spend much of their time on the 
ground, where they walk or run instead of advancing by leaps. They generally build rude, 
bulky nests, lay spotted or streaked eggs, and their best vocal efforts are hardly to be called 
musical. The $ of all our species is lustrous black, with various iridescence, the 9 merely 
blackish, or brown and much smaller. There is only one genus (Cassidix) besides the two 
of this country : in Scolecophagus the tail is slightly rounded and shorter than the wings ; in 
Quiscdlus the tail is graduated, and nearly equals or exceeds the wings. They are not specially 
palustrine. Individuals of all the species abound, especially in the South and West ; only two 
are common Eastern birds. 
1 04. SCOLECO'PHAGUS. (Gr. crKU)\r}^, gen. aKwXrjKos, scolex, scoUcos, a worm : (f)ayos, phagos, 
eating.) Eusty Grackles. Thrush Blackbirds. Bill shorter or not longer than head, 
slender for the subfamily, and somewhat like a robin's, for instance; culmen little convex, if 
any, except at the decurved tip ; gonys slightly convex ; cutting edges inflexed, commissure 
little sinuated. Wings pointed, decidedly longer than the nearly even tail ; point formed by 
the outer 4 primaries. Tail much as in Agelmis in size and shape. Tarsus rather longer than 
middle toe and claw. Lateral toes short, with moderate claws, scarcely or not reaching base 
of middle claw. Nest in bushes. Eggs spotty, not veiny and streaky. 
Analysis of Species. 
Smaller: wing under 5.00. Bill slender, tlirusli-like. greenish-black, including head. Sexes very un- 
like : $ quite rusty-brown, even with chestnut ; a light line over eye ferrugineus 331 
Larger: wing 5.00 or more. Bill stouter, more blackbird-like, cf greenish-black, head more violet. 9 
subsirailar, sooty-brown ; no pale superciliary stripe cyanocephalus 332 
331. S. f errugi'neus. (Lat. ferrugineus, rust-colored ; ferrugo, iron-rust : only applicable to 9 ^ind 
young.) Rusty Grackle. Thrush Blackbird. Adult ^, in summer : One lustrous black 
with green metallic reflections ; head not notably different from other parts in its iridescence. 
Bill and feet black. Iris creamy or lemon. (Not ordinarily seen in the U. S. in this full dress 
— usually with some rusty.) Length 9.00-9.50; extent 14.00-15.00; wing under 5.00; tail 
4.00 or less ; bill 0.80, only about 0.35 deep at base ; tarsus 1.20; middle toe and claw less. 
Adult 9 i^i summer: Slaty- blackish, duller below, with greenish reflections chiefly on wings 
and tail ; nearly all the upper parts overlaid Mdth rich rusty-brown, and under parts with a 
paler shade of the same; inner secondaries brown-edged; a whitey-brown streak over eye; iris 
brown. Moderately smaller than the ^. The young ^ at first resembles the 9> l>ut is 
larger, and shows more decidedly lustrous black, especially on wings and tail. As usually 
found in flocks in the U. S., in fall, winter, and early spring, young and old of both sexes 
are very rusty, with light line over eye. Eastern North Amer., N. W. to Alaska; in the 
U. S., W. to Dakota, Nebraska, etc., meeting and mixing in the fall with the next species. 
In winter, generally dispersed over the E. U. S. ; breeds from N. New England northward. 
Nesting and eggs like those of Xanthocephalus ; breeding in loose colonies, in swampy tangle ; 
nest in bushes, of sticks and grasses mixed with mud, lined with fine grasses and rootlets ; eggs 
usually 4, about 1.05 X 0.75, but very variable; dull greenish- bluish or grayish-white, flecked 
and mottled with dark brown, but with little or no line-tracery. 
332. S. cyanoce'phalus. (Gr. Kvavos, Jcuanos, Lat. cyanus, blue ; K€<paXr), kep)lialej head.) Blue- 
headed Grackle. Brewer's Blackbird. Similar to the last, but quite a different bird. 
Adult $, in summer: Very lustrous green-black, as before, but with purple and violet irides- 
cence, especially on head, where the violet or steel-blue sheen contrasts with the general 
greenish hue. Bill and feet black. Iris creamy or lemon. Larger : length averaging 10.00 
— 9.75-10.35 ; extent 16.00 or more ; wing 5.00-5.25 ; tail 4.00-4.25 ; bill 0.80, stout at base, 
where about 0.40 deep — more like an abbreviated Quiscalus-'hiY^ than a thrush's; tarsus 1.25- 
1.30; middle toe and claw 1.10-1.15. 9? adult, in summer: Blackish, with dull greenish 
