28 
RED-AKDAYHITE-WIK GED TROOPIAL. 
from the prying eyes of the lurking savage. The night is past, the dawn 
smiles upon the refreshed travellers, who launch their frail bark ; and as 
they slowly float on the stream, both listen attentively to the notes of the 
Red-and-White-winged Troopial, and wonder how similar they are to those 
of the “ Red-winged Starling they think of the affinities of species, and 
especially of those of the lively birds composing this beautiful group. 
This beautiful species was discovered in Upper California by my friend 
Thomas Nuttall, Esq., from whom I received the specimen represented 
in the plate, together with the following account. “ Flocks of this vagrant 
bird, which, in all probability, extends its migrations into Oregon, are very 
common around Santa Barbara in Upper California, in the month of April. 
Their habits are similar to those of the Red-winged Starling, ( Agelaius 
phmiiceiis,) but they keep in large flocks apart from that species, which also 
inhabits this country as well as Mexico. They are seldom seen but in the 
near suburbs of the town, feeding at this time almost exclusively on the 
maggots or larvm of the blow-flies, which are generated in the offal of the 
cattle constantly killed around the town for the sake of the hides. In large 
whirling flocks they are seen associated with the Cow-birds, Common 
Grakles, Red-wings, and a small species with an orange-yellow head, flit- 
ting about in quest of food, or perching on the orchard trees in the town, 
where they keep up an incessant chatter and discordant confused warble, 
much more harsh or guttural than the note of the Cow-bird. They are 
also common around Monterey. With the female, and the circumstances 
of breeding, I am not acquainted.” 
Red-and-white-winged Troopial, Icterus tricolor , And. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 1. 
Male, 9 ; wing, 5. 
North California. Abundant. Migratory. 
Adult Male. 
Bill nearly as long as the head, conical, straight, moderately stout, taper- 
ing to a fine point ; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, 
being a little convex at the base, the ridge a little flattened toward the base, 
where it runs into a short tapering process, the sides rounded, the edges 
inflected, the tip a little depressed ; lower mandible higher at the base than 
the upper, with the angle rather short and wide, the sides rather flat at the 
base, convex toward the end, the edges inflected, the tip acute ; the gap- 
line straight, but at the base deflected. Nostrils oval, in the fore part of 
the short nasal depression. 
Head of moderate size, ovate, with the forehead flattened ; neck short ; 
body moderately stout. Feet of ordinary length ; tarsus rather stout, com 
