THE RUSTY GRAKLE. 
67 
Redwings, Common Crow Blackbirds, and Cow Bantings, in committing 
depredations on the corn-fields. 
The eggs of this species measure one inch in length, five and a half eighths 
in breadth. Their ground-colour is pale blue, marked sparingly with blotches 
of brownish-black, and others more numerous of pale purplish-grey, the 
former disposed round the large end, the latter over the whole surface. 
Rusty Grakle, Gracula ferruginea, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 41. 
Quiscalus ferrugineus, Bonap. Syn., p. 55. 
Scolecophagus ferru G iNEUS, Rusty Maggot-eater , Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. 
Amer., vol. ii. p. 286. 
Rusty Blackbird, Quiscalus ferrugineus, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 199. 
Rusty Grakle, Quiscalus ferrugineus , And. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 325 ; vol. v. p. 483. 
Male, 9§, 14^. 
From Texas to Maryland, and along the Mississippi and Ohio to Ken- 
tucky, during winter. Migrates northward to the Fur Countries, and to 
the Columbia'river, in summer. Common. 
Adult Male. 
Bill of moderate length, straight, tapering, compressed from the base ; 
upper mandible prolonged on the forehead, forming an acute angle there, 
a little declinate at the tip, the dorsal outline slightly convex, the sides 
convex, the edges sharp and inflected ; lower mandible nearly straight in 
its dorsal outline, convex on the sides, the edges sharp and inflected ; gap- 
line deflected at the base. Nostrils basal, oval, half closed above by a mem- 
brane. Head of ordinary size, neck rather short, body rather slender. 
Feet of moderate length, strong ; tarsus compressed, with a few long scutella 
anteriorly, sharp behind ; toes compressed, the lateral nearly equal, the 
outer united as far as the second joint to the middle, which is much longer, 
hind-toe not much stouter than the inner ; claws rather long, arched, com- 
pressed, very acute. 
Plumage soft, blended, glossy. Wings rather long, second quill longest, first 
and fourth equal. Tail rather long, slightly rounded, of twelve broad feathers. 
Bill and feet black. Iris pale yellow. The general colour is deep black, 
with greenish and bluish reflections. 
Length 9£ inches, extent of wings 14^ ; bill along the back 3, along the 
edge H ; tarsus li. 
Adult Female. 
Bill, iris, and feet as in the male. The general colour is brownish-black ; 
the side of the head over the eyes, and a broad band beneath it light yel- 
lowish-brown, the feathers of the lower parts more or less margined with 
brownish. 
