GREAT CROW BLACKBIRD. 
295 
by that zealous observer of nature, and skilful artist, Mr John 
J. Audubon, and hope thereby to remove all doubt relative to 
this interesting species. 
For the same purpose we give in the following plate a 
figure of the female common crow blackbird, which differs so 
little from its mate (admirably represented in the third volume 
of Wilson’s Ornithology), that it would be otherwise unne- 
cessary. This measure, we believe, will be acceptable to or- 
nithologists, as it furnishes them with means of comparing the 
females of both the species in question, whence the most stri- 
king distinctive characters are obtained; that of one species 
differing considerably in size and colour from the male, while 
the sexes of the other are very similar in appearance. 
Wilson having mentioned this species in his catalogue of 
land birds, evidently intended to describe and figure it ; but 
this he deferred, probably, in expectation of obtaining better 
opportunities of examination, which are not so readily present- 
ed, as the bird does not inhabit this section of the United 
States. 
It would be difficult to ascertain whether or not Linne and 
Latham have mentioned this bird in any part of their works, 
but the reader may perceive our opinion on this point by re- 
ferring to our synonyms, which, however, are given with much 
doubt, since we do not hesitate to say, that those authors have 
not published any satisfactory description of this species. 
We shall not endeavour to settle the question relative to 
the species inhabiting South America, or even Mexico and 
the West Indies ; but we may assert, that this is the only 
blackbird found in the United States, besides those of Wilson, 
which, as is the case with all that his pencil or pen has touched, 
are established incontestably. He may occasionally have been 
mistaken as to his genera, or incorrect in a specific name, but 
by the plate, description, and history, he has always deter- 
mined his bird so obviously, as to defy criticism, and prevent 
future mistake. 
Mr Ord has published an excellent paper in the Journal of 
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