56 
QUISCALUS MAJOR. 
with the scapulars and lesser wing-coverts, has slii, 
greenish reflections; a whitish line passes from tl>* 
nostrils over the eye, to the origin of the neck. T* 1 ' 
chin, throat, and breast, are dull whitish ; the anter' 11 ' 
part of the breast is slightly tinged with brownis* 1 
the flanks are brownish ; the belly brownish wliifj 
and the vent and inferior tail-coverts arc black'* 
brown, each feather being margined with pale. I'* 1 ' 
remaining parts are of a dull brownish black, slight 
glossed with greenish; the secondaries, tail-cover** 
and tail feathers, having a slight banded appeararu* 
which is equally observable in the male. 
The young at first resemble the female, but h"' 1 
the irides brown, and the males gradually acquire w 
brilliant plumage of the adult. 
The great and common crow blackbirds are her 
alike distinguished by the very remarkable boat-1' 1:1 
form ot the tail, but the great difference of size, appc‘ r 
ance of the females, length of the tail, prominence*' 
the osseus carina, and brilliancy of colouring, in'" 1 
obviously prove them to be altogether specific;'® 
distinct. 
The great crow blackbird inhabits the southern piq 
of the Union, where it is called jackdaw; Georgia a” 
Florida appear to be its favourite residence.” T** 1 
disposition of this species is extremely social, and tl"’- 
frequently mingle with the common crow blackbird 
vast flocks are seen among the sea islands and neilr 
bouring marshes on the main land, where they feed * 
low water, on the oyster beds and sand flats. 
The chuck of our species is shriller than that of $ 
common crow blackbird, and it has other notes wbK 
resemble the noise made by a watchman’s rattle; the' 
song is only heard in the spring, and though the cone 1 ’* 
they make is somewhat melancholy, it is not altogeth'' 1 
disagreeable. Their nests are built in company, 1,11 
reeds and bushes, in the neighbourhood of marsh** 
and ponds ; they lay about five eggs, which are whit' 8 ^ 
spotted with dark brown. 
Mr Ord mentions in his paper, that the first speciffl eI|J 
