208 
ICTERUS PECORIS. 
blackbirds. By the naturalists of Europe they hav^ 
hitherto been classed with the finches ; though inipro' 
perly, as they have no family resemblance to that trih* 
suflBcient to justify that arrangement. If wo are to h® 
directed by the conformation of their bill, nostril-S 
tongue, and claws, w’e cannot hesitate a moment i® 
classiiig them with the red-winged blackbirds, orioh‘^ 
phcenicens ; not, hovi ever, as orioles, but as buntin^^’ 
or some new intermediate genus ; the notes or diale<-'‘ 
of the cow bunting and those of the redwings, as 
as some other peculiarities of voice and gesticulatiO'' 
being strikingly similar. 
Respecting this extraonliuary bird, I have receive^ 
communications from various fpiarters, all corroborative 
of the foregoing particuhrrs. Among these is a letter 
from Dr Potter of Baltimore, which, as it eontaios 
some new and interesting facts, and several amusio? 
incidents, illustrative of the character of the bird, 1 
shall with pleasure lay Ijefore the reader, apologizii'? 
to the obliging writer for a few unimportant omission'' 
which have been anticipated in the preceding pages. 
“ I regret exceedingly that professional avocation* 
have put it out ot my power to have replied earlier t® 
your favour of the 19tli of September; and although J 
shall not now reflect all the light vou desire, a faithM 
transcript from memoranda, noted at the moment ot 
observation, may not be altogether uninteresting. 
“ The friuyilla pecoris is generally known in Mar?" 
land by the name of the cow blackbird; and none but 
the naturalist view it as a distinct .species. It appear* 
about the last of March, or first week in April, though 
sometimes a little earlier when the spring is unusually 
forward. It is less punctual in its appearance thau 
many other of our migratory birds. 
“ It commonly remains with us till about the last ot 
October; though unusually cold weather sometime* 
banishes it much earlier. It, however, sometime* 
happens that a few of them remain with us all winteti 
and are seen hovering about our barns and farm-yar“* 
