44 
BULLOCK’S TROOPIAL, ORIOLE, OR HANG-NEST. 
from Mr. Townsend. He says, “ it inhabits the Rocky Mountains near the 
Black Hills and the forests of the Columbia river. In the latter place it is a 
rather plentiful species. Its usual note consists of a single quavering call 
somewhat like one of the notes of the Scarlet Tanager, Tanagra rubra. 
At other times it warbles a little, but not with half the sweetness or compass 
of its near relative the Baltimore. It is a very active species, so much so 
indeed that it is very difficult to get a shot at it while sitting, but it is easily 
killed on the wing. It evidently breeds here, and has probably now a nest 
(June 17th), but I have not been able to find it. The female is rarely seen, 
and is particularly shy and noiseless.” 
Xanthornus Bullockii, Swains. Syn. of Hex. Birds, Phil. Mag. 1827, p. 436. 
Bullock’s Troopial, Icterus Bullockii, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 9. 
Male, 74, wing, 4 T ^. 
Rocky Mountains, Columbia river, and California. Common. Migratory. 
Adult Male. 
Bill a little shorter than the head, conical, very slightly decurved, com- 
pressed, tapering to a very attenuated point ; upper mandible with the dorsal 
line almost straight, being very slightly convex, the ridge narrow, its basal 
extremity tapering, the sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip extreme- 
ly sharp ; lower mandible with the angle long and of moderate width, the 
dorsal line and that of the crura slightly concave, the sides erect and nearly 
fiat at the base, convex toward the end, the edges slightly inflected, the tip 
extremely slender ; gap-line straight, decimate at the base. Nostrils ellip- 
tical, with a small operculum above, in the fore part of the nasal membrane, 
half-way between the ridge and the margin. 
Head ovate, of moderate size ; neck short ; body rather slender. Feet of 
moderate length, rather stout ; tarsus much compressed, with seven large 
anterior scutella, and two longitudinal plates behind forming a very thin 
edge ; toes of moderate size, the hind toe much stronger, the lateral about 
equal, the third and fourth united at the base. Claws rather long, mode- 
rately arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. 
Plumage soft and blended, the feathers ovate and rounded. Wings of 
moderate length, the first four quills nearly of equal length, the first being 
scarcely two-twelfths shorter than the second, which is the longest, but 
scarcely exceeds the third. Tail rather long, straight, rounded and slightly 
emarginate, the middle feathers being one-twelfth, and the lateral three- 
twelfths shorter than the longest. 
Bill greyish-blue, dusky along the ridge ; feet and claws light blue. The 
upper part of the head, the hind neck, and the anterior portion of the back. 
