BIRDS-XCTERIDAE—SCOLECOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS. 
551 
SCOLECOPHAGUS, Swain son. 
Scolecophagus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831. Type Oriolus ferrugineus, Gmelin. 
Ch.— Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, the edges indexed as in Quiscalus, which it otherwise greatly resembles ; the 
commissure sinuated. Culmen rounded, but not flattened. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Tail even, or slightly rounded. 
The above characteristics will readily distinguish the genus from its allies. The form is 
much like that of Agelaius. The bill, however, is more attenuated, the culmen curved 
and slightly sinuated. The bend at the base of the commissure is shorter. The culmen is 
angular at the base posterior to the nostrils, instead of being much flattened, and does not 
extend so far behind. 
Comparative measurements. 
Catal. No. 
Species. 
Locality. 
Sex. 
Length. 
Stretch of 
wings. 
fcfl 
G 
£ 
Tail. 
Tarsus. 
Middletoe. 
Its claw 
alone. 
Hind toe 
and claw. 
Ilind toe 
[ alone. 
Bill above. 
Along gape. 
Specimen 
measured. 
1322 
Scolecophagus ferrugineus 
Carlisle, Penn. 
3 
8.60 
4.62 
4.03 
1.24 
1.11 
0.25 
0.80 
0.34 
0.78 
0.94 
Skin .... 
[do. 
9 32 
14.75 
4.72 
5322 
8.20 
4.58 
3.72 
1.20 
1.11 
0.28 
0.82 
0.36 
0.80 
0.89 
Sioux City. 
do. 
9.12 
15.25 
4.25 
1358 
o 
8.10 
4.26 
3.65 
1 16 
1.10 
0.28 
0.74 
0.40 
0.78 
0.92 
Skin .... 
do. 
V 
9.00 
13.75 
4 25 
Fresh ... 
8706 
r? ? 
9.26 
5,23 
4.46 
1.30 
1.06 
O'. 27 
0.85 
0.38 
0.84 
0.90 
Skin. 
phalus. 
do. 
9.75 
16.25 
3915 
9 
8.64 
4.68 
3.90 
1.22 
1.06 
0.27 
0.82 
0.33 
0.70 
0.80 
10294 
Pembina, Minn. 
8.52 
4.66 
3.94 
1.19 
1.05 
0.28 
0.80 
0.40 
0.75 
0.78 
Skin .... 
SCOLECOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS, Swainson. 
Rusty Blackbird. 
Oriolus ferrugineus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 393, No. 43.— Lath. Ind. I, 1790, 17G. 
Gracula ferruginea, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 41; pi. xxi; f. 3. 
(Quiscalus ferrugineus. Bon. Obs. Wils. 1824, No. 46.— Nuttall, Man. I, 1832, 199 .—Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834,315: 
V, 1839, 483; pi. 147 .—Ib. Synopsis, 1839, 146 .—Ib. Birds Amer. IV, 1842, 65; pi. 222. 
Scolecophagus ferrugineus, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 286.— Bon. List, 1838. 
?? Oriolus niger, Gmelin, I, 1788, 393, No. 4, 5, (perhaps Quiscalus.) 
Scolecophagus niger, Bonap. Consp. 1850, 423-— Cabanis, Mus. Hein. 1851, 195. 
?? Oriolusfuscus, Gmelin, Syst. I, 1788, 393, No. 44, (perhaps Molothrus.) 
Turdus hudsonius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 818.— Lath. Ind. 
Turdus noveboracensis, Gmelin, I, 1788, 818. 
Turdus labradorius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 832. —.Lath. Ind. I, 1790, 342, ( labradorus ). 
“ Pendulinus ater, Vieillot, Nouv. Diet.” 
Chalcophanes virescens, Wagler, Syst. Av. (Appendix Oriolus 9). 
? Turdus No. 22 from Severn river, Forster, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 400. 
Sp. Ch. —Bill slender ; shorter than the head ; about equal to the hind toe ; its height not quite two-fifths the total length. 
Wing nearly an inch longer than the tail; second quill longest; first a little shorter than the fourth. Tail slightly graduated ; 
hie lateral feathers about a quarter of an inch shortest. General color black, with purple reflections ; the wings, under tail 
coverts, and hinder part of the belly, glossed with green. Female dull brown. Length 9.50 ; wing, 4.75; tail, 4.00. 
Hub —From Atlantic coast to the Missouri. 
The female of this bird is of a dull plumbeous brown beneath, blacker above, the feathers 
