GREAT CROW BLACKBIRD. 
53 
part of their works, but the reader may perceive our 
opinion on this point by referring 1 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 1 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 g-enera, or ineorrect in a specific name, but 
by the plate, description, and history, he has always 
determined his bird so obviously, as to defy criticism, 
and prevent future mistake. 
Mr Ord has published an excellent paper in the 
Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences , proving’ 
the existence, in the United States, of two allied 
species of crow blackbird, in which he gives new 
descriptions, indicates stable characters, and adds an 
account of their respective habits ; but in attempting 1 
to correct Wilson, he has unfortunately misapplied the 
names. In this instance, he should not have charged 
Wilson with error, who is certainly correct in regard 
to the species he published ; and even had this been 
doubtful, he who so well described and figured the 
common crow blackbird, ought to have been followed 
by ornithologists. Therefore, notwithstanding Mr Ord’s 
decision, we consider the quiscala of Wilson unques- 
tionably the true quiscala of authors. This is so 
obvious, that it is unnecessary to adduce any evidence 
in support of our opinion, which, indeed, is sufficiently 
afforded by Mr Ord’s paper itself. 
It is impossible to decide with certainty, what bird 
authors intended to designate by their Gracula barita ; 
but after a careful review of the short and unessential 
indications, respective synonyms, and habitat , given 
by different writers, we feel assured that they have not 
referred to one and the same species. Thus, the barita 
