BIRDS-ICTERIDAE— TRUPIALIS MILITARIS. 
533 
TRUPIALIS, Bonaparte. 
Trupialis, Bonap. Conspectus, 1850, 429. Type Slurnus militaris, L. 
Peziles, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 191. Type Slurnus loyca, Mol. 
Cn.—Form of Sturnella. Bill elongated ; length about two and a half times the height. Feathers on top of head with bristly 
shafts. Tail feathers broad, widening at the ends ; the inner corner rounded off. Hind toe nearly as long as the middle. 
Above banded ; throat and beneath red, without any crescent. 
This genus, formerly united witli Sturnella , is very similar, having the same general appear¬ 
ance The hill is higher at the base, and more like Agelaius; it is longer than the head, and 
about equal to the tarsus. The tarsus is longer than the middle toe, which is scarcely longer 
than the hinder. The toes are much shorter, the claws sharper and more curved, than in Stur¬ 
nella. The tail is differently formed, being rather broad and rounded, with feathers widening 
externally at the tip, instead of being formed of narrow, lanceolate, acute feathers, with the 
outer web the same throughout. 
Comparative measurements of species. 
Catal. No. 
Species. 
Locality. 
Sex. 
Length. 
Stretch of 
wings. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tarsus. 
Middle toe. 
Its claw 
alone. 
Hind toe 
and claw. 
Hind toe 
alone. 
Bill above. 
Along gape. 
Specimen 
measured. 
1 303 
<$ 
9.10 
4.79 
3.60 
1.60 
1.46 
0.32 
1.22 
0,54 
1.32 
1.48 
10.58 
16.08 
4.91 
Fresh. 
1555 
9 
7.60 
4.28 
2.80 
1.57 
1.38 
0.33 
1.12 
0.47 
1.12 
1.21 
Skin. 
9.00 
14.50 
4.41 
Fresh. 
8614 
9.50 
4.81 
3.28 
1.47 
1.40 
0.33 
1.13 
0.46 
1.38 
1.46 
Skin. 
10.00 
15.50 
4.75 
Fresh...... 
5336 
9 
8.00 
4.36 
2.79 
1.45 
1.18 
0.32 
1.07 
0.47 
1.12 
1.23 
Skin. 
8.50 
14 50 
4.50 
Fresh. 
105292 
3 
8.70 
4.88 
3.38 
1.58 
1.20 
0.26 
1.00 
0.40 
1.32 
1.40 
Skin. 
10316 
9.00 
4.96 
3.33 
1.46 
1.36 
0.33 
1.09 
0.48 
1.28 
1.40 
Skin. 
9C93 
7.50 
4.16 
2.95 
1.66 
1,45 
0.38 
1.28 
0.55 
1.16 
1.15 
Skin. 
1950 
8.90 
4.29 
3.21 
1.62 
1.40 
0.33 
1.22 
0.53 
1.58 
1.66 
Skin ...... 
4230 
9.30 
4.74 
3.98 
1.40 
1.16 
0.32 
1.18 
0.46 
1.27 
1.24 
Skin. 
1794 
Trupialis brevirostris... 
Mexico?............ 
8.62 
4.22 
2.80 
1.22 
1.28 
0.32 
1.00 
0.43 
1.13 
1.10 
Skin ...... 
TRUPIALIS MILITARIS, Bonap. 
Red-breasted Dark. 
Sturnus militaris, Linn. Mantissa, 1771, 527.— Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 803. (Falklands.) 
Trupialis militaris, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 429. 
Pezites loyca, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 191. 
Sp.Ch. —Bill longer than the head ; shaped like Sturnella. First quill between fourth and fifth in length. Tail slightly 
graduated ; the lateral feathers about .20 of an inch shorter. Above dark brown, each feather edged with yellowish brown ; 
the exposed surfaces of wings, tail coverts, and tail almost an olive brown ; the rump grayer ; all banded narrowly and trans¬ 
versely with dark brown, of which color are the concealed portions of wing and tail. A spot in front of the eye, bend of 
wings, extreme shoulder, with the under parts, red. The sides of the head, neck, and body, with the hinder part of the 
abdomen and under tail coverts, black, the feathers edged with gray, and showing indistinct transverse bands. The red of the 
chin passing up on the side of the lower jaw. A faint median, and conspicuous superciliary stripe, with the under wing coverts, 
white. Tibia brown. Length, 9.50 ; wing, 4.90 •, tail, 4.10. 
Hab. —West coast of South America, around to Falkland Islands. Perhaps in Brazil. Coast of California? 
In this species tbe blackish on the side of the neck extends inwards so as to leave a very narrow 
streak of red just on the upper part of the neck. The red extends nearly as far back as the 
