38 
GREAT CROW-BLACKBIRD. 
and partly from the Boat-tailed Grakle of Latham, being com¬ 
pounded from both species: we shall not be at the trouble of 
decyphering the errors of subsequent compilers. 
Ornithologists are all at variance, as to the classification of these 
species. Linne and Latham improperly referred them to Gracula / 
Daudin, with no better reason, placed them under Sturnus; Tem- 
minck considers them as Icteri, Cuvier as Cassici , and Vieillot has 
formed a new genus for their reception. I have no hesitation in 
agreeing with the latter author, and adopt his name of Quiscalus; 
but I add to the genus, as constituted by him, the Gracula ferr u- 
ginea, which he regarded as a Pendulinus, and which other 
authors have arranged in several different genera, making of it a 
profusion of nominal species. Wilson judiciously included that 
species in the same genus with those above mentioned, although 
other authors had placed it in Turdus , Oriolus , fyc. 
The genus Quiscalus is peculiar to America, and is composed 
of four well ascertained species, three of which are found in the 
United States: these are, Quiscalus major , # versicolor, and ferru- 
gineus; the fourth, Quiscalus baritus, inhabits the West Indies, 
and probably South America. 
The species of this genus are gregarious, and omnivorous; their 
food being composed of insects, corn, and small grains, thus assist¬ 
ing and plundering the agriculturist at the same time. When the 
first European settlements were formed in North America, the 
havoc made by these birds and the Troopials in the grain fields, 
was so great, that a premium was given for their heads. Their 
destruction was easily effected, as they are not shy, and are more 
easily approached as their numbers decrease; but the evil which 
resulted from exterminating so many of these birds, was as unex¬ 
pected as irremediable. The corn and pastures were so devoured 
* We call the present species Quiscalus major , agreeably to Vieillot, who certainly 
intended this bird, although his description is a mere indication. 
