Front matter (continued 4)

Male, 7³/₄, 13.

Passes from Texas northward and eastward in great numbers. Breeds on the Missouri, in the Middle States, Newfoundland, and Labrador. Rather common. Migratory.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Loxia rosea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 135.

Fringilla ludoviciana, Bonap. Syn. p. 113.

Coccothraustes ludoviciana, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, F. Bor. Amer. v. i. p. 271.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Fringilla ludoviciana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 527.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Fringilla ludoviciana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 166; v. ii. p. 513.

206. 3. Coccoborus melanocephalus, Swains. Black-headed Song-Grosbeak.

Plate CCCLXXIII. Male and Female.

Male with the head, cheeks, a small portion of the throat, wings, and tail, black; a band on the hind neck, the fore part and sides of the neck, a portion of the breast, and the sides, dull reddish-orange; the middle of the breast, axillars, and lower wing-coverts, light yellow; back black, streaked with yellowish-red; rump of the latter colour; two bands on the wings, the base and outer margins of the primaries, the tips of the secondaries, and a terminal patch on the inner webs of the outer three tail-feathers, white. Female with the upper parts light yellowish-brown, streaked with darker, the lower light yellowish-brown; the axillars and lower wing-coverts light yellow; white wing-bands narrower than in the male.

Male, 8¹/₂, wing 4¹/₄.

Central Table-land of Rocky Mountains. Common. Migratory.

Black-headed Grosbeak, Fringilla melanocephala, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 519.

GENUS XVII. COCCOTHRAUSTES, Briss. GROSBEAK.

Bill of moderate length, extremely robust, almost as broad as the head, not compressed, conical, pointed; upper mandible rather broader than the lower, with the dorsal line slightly convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal sinus extremely wide and short, the sides rounded, the edges simply arched and a little inflected, the notches almost obsolete, the tip a little deflected; lower mandible with the angle extremely short and wide, forming the fourth of a circle, the dorsal line straight, the sides at the base and in their whole length convex, the edges involute, the tip acute; nostrils basal, round. Plumage blended. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, emarginate. Tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, hind toe stout, broad beneath; outer toe a little longer than the inner, and adherent at the base. Claws moderate, or rather stout, arched, compressed, acute. Upper mandible concave beneath, with three prominent lines.

207. 1. Coccothraustes vespertina, Cooper. Evening Grosbeak.

Plate CCCLXXIII. Fig. 1. Male.

Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig 5. Female. Fig. 6. Young Male.

Male with the upper part of the head and hind neck black, bounded anteriorly by a broadish band of bright yellow passing over the eyes; a narrow line of black margining the base of the bill; cheeks, lower part of hind neck, and throat, dark yellowish-olive, this colour gradually brightening on the body, until, on the outer edges of the scapulars, the rump, the axillars, lower wing-coverts, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, it becomes pure yellow; smaller wing-coverts, alula, primary coverts, primaries, outer three secondaries, outer web of the next, and the bases of the inner secondaries black, as is the tail; six inner secondaries, and their coverts, the basal part excepted, black. Female with the upper parts brownish-grey, the head and cheeks darker, the lower parts pale grey, the throat white, with two longitudinal black bands; a band of greenish-yellow across the fore part of the back, axillars and lower wing-coverts light yellow; wings and tail, with their coverts, brownish-black, secondary coverts, and quills edged with yellowish-white, bases of some of the primaries, tips of the tail-coverts, and inner webs of all the tail-feathers at the end, white. Young male similar to the female, but without the black bands on the throat.

Male, 8, wing 4³/₄. Female, 7¹/₂, wing 4¹/₄.

Michigan. Columbia River. Saskatchewan. Common. Migratory.

Fringilla vespertina, Cooper, Ann. Lyc. New York, v. i. p. 220.

Evening Grosbeak, Fringilla vespertina, Bonap. Syn. p. 113.

Evening Grosbeak, Fringilla vespertina, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. pl. 14.

Coccothraustes vespertina, Evening Grosbeak, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 269.

Evening Grosbeak, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 594.

Coccothraustes Bonapartii, Lesson, Young Male.

Evening Grosbeak, Fringilla vespertina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 515; v. v. p. 235.

GENUS XVIII. PYRANGA, Vieill. RED-BIRD.

Bill of moderate length, robust, tapering, compressed toward the end, acute; upper mandible with its dorsal line declinate and considerably convex, the ridge rather narrow, nasal sinus very short and wide, the sides convex, the edges sharp, slightly arched, with a festoon about the middle, the notches distinct, the tip very slender, declinate; lower mandible strong, with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges direct, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, round. Head ovate; neck short; body compact. Tarsus short, with seven scutella; toes rather small, the first moderate, the outer slightly longer than the inner, and adherent at the base. Claws moderate, well arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute, those of the first and third toes equal. Plumage soft and blended; distinct bristles at the base of upper mandible. Wings rather long, with the second and third quills longest, the first a little shorter. Tail of moderate length, emarginate. Upper mandible concave, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue somewhat triangular, convex above, with the point thin-edged and lacerated; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach broadly elliptical, small, its lateral muscles rather small; epithelium thin, longitudinally rugous; intestine short; cœca extremely small. Inferior laryngeal muscles four on each side, but very small.

208. 1. Pyranga æstiva, Gmel. Summer Red-bird.

Plate XLIV. Male and Female.

Male vermilion, brighter beneath; inner webs of quills brown. Female greenish-yellow above. Young like the female; young males variegated according to age; old females sometimes like the males, but duller.

Male, 7¹/₂, 11.

From Texas to Massachusetts. In the interior to Canada. Abundant. Migratory.

Summer Red Bird, Tanagra æstiva, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 95.

Tanagra æstiva, Bonap. Syn. p. 105.

Summer Red Bird, Tanagra æstiva, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 469.

Summer Red Bird, Tanagra æstiva, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 232; v. v. p. 518.

209. 2. Pyranga rubra, Linn. Scarlet Red-bird.—Scarlet Tanager.

Plate CCCLIV. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.

Male scarlet, with the wings and tail black. Female yellowish-green above, greenish-yellow beneath, wings and tail dusky, the feathers margined with yellowish-green. Males have been met with, having a scarlet band on the wing, formed by the first row of small coverts. Young like the female.

Male, 7, 11³/₄. Female, 6¹/₂, 10³/₄.

From Texas to Lake Huron. Throughout the Valley of the Mississippi, Kentucky, and Ohio. Common. Migratory.

Scarlet Tanager, Tanagra rubra, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 42.

Tanagra rubra, Bonap. Syn. p. 105.

Scarlet Tanager or Black-winged Summer Red Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 273.

Scarlet Tanager, Tanagra rubra, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 465.

Scarlet Tanager, Tanagra rubra, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 388.

210. 3. Pyranga Ludoviciana, Wils. Louisiana Red-bird.—Louisiana Tanager.

Plate CCCLIV. Fig. 1, 2. Male. Plate CCCC. Fig. 4. Female.

Male with the head and throat rich carmine; lower parts, neck, rump, and a broad band on the wing, rich yellow; middle of the back, wings, and tail black; secondary coverts and inner secondaries tipped with yellowish-white. Female with the upper parts yellowish-green, the fore part of the back greyish-olive; lower parts greenish-yellow; two bands on the wings, the anterior pale yellow, the other whitish.

Male, 7¹/₄, wing, 3^9½/₁₂.

Platte River. Columbia River. Common. Migratory.

Louisiana Tanager, Tanagra ludoviciana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 27.

Tanagra ludoviciana, Bonap. Syn. p. 105.

Louisiana Tanager, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 471.

Louisiana Tanager, Tanagra ludoviciana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 385; v. v. p. 90.

FAMILY XVI. AGELAINÆ. MARSH-BLACKBIRDS.

Bill of moderate length, sometimes short, seldom longer than the head, stout, straight, conical, compressed, tapering, pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, the nasal sinus short and very wide, the ridge thus appearing to encroach on the forehead, the sides rounded, the edges without notch; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the edges involute. Nostrils basal, roundish or oblong. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body moderately full. Legs of moderate length, stout, rather slender; tarsus compressed, with eight anterior scutella; hind toe large, lateral toes equal, the outer adherent at the base. Claws generally long, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft, blended, in the males usually glossy. Wings of moderate length, with the outer three or four quills longest, the first being very little shorter than the second, or sometimes even exceeding it; tail of twelve feathers, of moderate length, or elongated. The roof of the upper mandible concave, with three longitudinal ridges, of which the middle is larger, and at the base forms a hard prominence; tongue sagittate and papillate at the base, narrow, deep, pointed. Œsophagus wide, dilated about the middle; proventriculus oblong; stomach roundish or elliptical, with the lateral muscles distinct and well developed; the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine short and rather wide; cœca very small, cylindrical; cloaca oblong. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles. Female much smaller. Nest various, on trees or bushes, or on the ground, generally elaborate. Eggs about five, ovate, spotted and streaked.

GENUS I. DOLICHONYX, Swains. RICE-BIRD.

Bill rather short, very stout, moderately compressed, conical; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, a little convex at the base, and very slightly deflected at the end, its ridge rather broad, indistinct, sides rounded, edges direct, overlapping, tip rather acute; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, very broad, dorsal outline ascending, slightly convex at the base, sides erect and convex, tip acute; gape-line ascending for a fourth of its length, then direct. Nostrils small, elliptical, operculate. Plumage blended, but firm, with little gloss. Wings rather long, pointed, the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, the feathers narrow and acuminate. Toes large; claws very long, little arched, slender, tapering to a fine point.

211. 1. Dolichonyx oryzivora, Linn. Wandering Rice-bird.—Bob-o-link. Maybird. Ortolan.

Plate LIV. Male and Female.

Male with the head, cheeks, lower parts, wings, and tail, black; a band of brownish-yellow across the hind neck; the back anteriorly black, the feathers with yellowish edges, posteriorly light grey, passing into white, of which colour are the scapulars. Female with the upper parts light yellowish-brown, longitudinally streaked with blackish-brown; the lower parts light greyish-yellow, the sides streaked with dusky. In autumn, the males assume the plumage of the female.

Male, 7, 11.

Passes from Texas eastward and northward. Breeds from the Middle Districts northward. Extremely abundant. Migratory.

Rice-Bunting, Emberiza oryzivora, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 48.

Icterus agripennis, Bonap. Syn. p. 53.

Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Sharp-Tailed Rice-Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 278.

Rice-Bird, or Bob-o-link, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 185.

Rice-Bird, Icterus agripennis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 283; v. v. p. 486.

GENUS II. MOLOTHRUS, Swains. COW-BIRD.

Bill rather short, very stout, moderately compressed, conical; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, its ridge flattened for half its length, afterwards narrow, sides convex, edges direct, tip rather acute; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal outline ascending, straight, sides erect and convex, edges involute, tip acute; gape-line gently ascending for a third of its length, afterwards direct. Nostrils small, elliptical. Plumage blended, glossy. Wings rather long, pointed, the second quill longest, the first almost equal. Tail of moderate length, the feathers broad and rounded.

212. 1. Molothrus pecoris, Gmel. Common Cow-bird.

Plate XCIX. Male and Female. Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 4. Young.

Male with the head and neck sooty-brown, the body black, glossed with green, the fore part of the back with blue. Female considerably smaller, greyish-brown, the lower parts lighter. Young with the upper parts greyish-brown, the quills and tail darker; wing-coverts and secondary quills narrowly edged with light brown, primaries with whitish; lower parts dull yellowish-white, the sides marked with a series of dark brown pointed spots.

Male, 7, 11¹/₂.

Dispersed from Texas northward to Lat. 68°, and throughout the United States. Great numbers winter in the Southern States.

Cow Bunting, Emberiza pecoris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 145.

Icterus pecoris, Bonap. Syn. p. 53.

Molothrus pecoris, Cow-pen or Cuckoo Bunt, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 277.

Cow Troopial, or Cow Blackbird, Icterus pecoris, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 178.

Cow-pen Bird, Icterus pecoris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 493; v. v. p. 233, 490.

GENUS III. AGELAIUS, Swains. MARSH-BLACKBIRD.

Bill shorter than the head, stout, straight, conical, tapering to an acute point; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, slightly convex at the base, the ridge flattened toward the base, where it forms a short tapering process on the forehead, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip a little depressed; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the sides convex at the base, toward the end rounded, the edges involute, the tip acute; the gape-line ascending at the base, afterwards direct. Nostrils basal, oval, with a small operculum. Head ovate, of moderate size; neck short; body moderately stout. Feet of ordinary length, rather stout; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes rather large, the first much stronger, the outer a little shorter than the inner, and adherent at the base. Claws long, little arched, compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and blended, glossy in the males. Wings of moderate length, with the outer four quills nearly equal. Tail rather long, rounded. Roof of the upper mandible with three longitudinal ridges; tongue tapering to a horny, flattened, slightly emarginate tip; œsophagus wide, considerably dilated about the middle; stomach roundish, muscular; intestine short and of moderate width; cœca very small, cloaca oblong.

213. 1. Agelaius xanthocephalus, Bonap. Saffron-headed Marsh-Blackbird.

Plate CCCLXXXVIII. Fig. 2. Male. Fig. 3. Female. Fig. 4. Young.

Male with the head, upper part of hind neck, sides of the neck, its fore part, and a portion of the breast, orange-yellow, the throat paler; feathers along the base of the bill, loral space, a band below the eye, and a narrower one above it, black; the rest of the plumage glossy black, excepting two bands on the outer part of the wing, formed by some of the smaller coverts, and the primary coverts, which are white. Female much smaller, of a uniform chocolate-brown, with the edges of the feathers paler, the feathers at the base of the upper mandible, a band over the eye, and the fore part of the neck light yellow, the throat dull white, and the feathers on the middle of the breast margined with white toward the end. Young similar to the female, but without yellow on the fore neck.

Male, 9; wing, 5¹⁰/₁₂.

Western Plains, California, and Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Yellow-headed Troopial, Icterus icterocephalus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 27.

Icterus xanthocephalus, Bonap. Syn. p. 52.

Agelaius xanthocephalus, Saffron-headed Maize-Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 281.

Yellow-headed Troopial, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 176.

Yellow-headed Troopial, Icterus xanthocephalus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 6.

214. 2. Agelaius tricolor, Aud. Red-and-white-shouldered Marsh-Blackbird.

Plate CCCLXXXVIII. Fig. 1. Male.

Tail almost even. Male with the plumage glossy bluish-black; the smaller wing-coverts deep carmine, their first or posterior row white. Bill considerably longer than in the two following species.

Male, 9; wing, 5.

North California. Abundant. Migratory.

Red-and-white-winged Troopial, Icterus tricolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 1.

215. 3. Agelaius Gubernator, Wagler. Red-and-black-shouldered Marsh-Blackbird.

Plate CCCCXX. Male and Female.

Tail slightly rounded. Male with the plumage glossy bluish-black; the smaller wing-coverts carmine scarlet, their first or posterior row tinged with yellow, and broadly tipped with black. Female much smaller, with the upper parts dark brown, the feathers edged with light brown; some of the smaller wing-coverts edged with dull scarlet, the first row with brownish-white; the larger coverts, quills, and tail-feathers, blackish-brown, edged with dull reddish-brown; lower parts longitudinally streaked with dusky and whitish, the fore neck strongly tinged with dull carmine.

Male, 9; wing, 5⁷/₁₂.

California.

Psarocolius Gubernator, Wagler, Syst. Avium.

Crimson-winged Troopial, Icterus Gubernator, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 211.

216. 4. Agelaius phœniceus, Linn. Red-and-yellow-shouldered Marsh-Blackbird.—Red-winged Starling.

Plate LXVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Tail considerably rounded. Male with the plumage glossy black, the smaller wing-coverts scarlet, their first or posterior row buff-coloured, at the tip whitish. Female much smaller, with the upper parts dark brown, the feathers edged with light brown; some of the smaller wing-coverts tinged with red; wings and tail blackish-brown, the feathers margined with brownish-red, the first row of small coverts and secondary coverts narrowly tipped with whitish; a yellowish-brown band over the eye; lower parts longitudinally streaked with dusky and whitish, the fore neck strongly tinged with dull carmine. Young similar to the female, but without red on the small wing-coverts or throat, the latter part with the sides of the head being pale yellowish-brown.

Male, 9, 14. Female, 7¹/₂.

Breeds from Texas throughout the United States, and northward to the Saskatchewan. Vast numbers spend the winter in the Southern and Western States.

Red-winged Starling, Sturnus prædatorius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 30.

Icterus phœniceus, Bonap. Syn. p. 52.

Agelaius phœniceus, Red-winged Maize-bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 280.

Red-winged Blackbird, Icterus phœniceus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 169.

Red-winged Starling or Marsh-Blackbird, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 348; v. v. p. 487.

GENUS IV. ICTERUS, Briss. HANGNEST.

Bill a little shorter than the head, conical, very slightly decurved, compressed, tapering to a very attenuated point; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, being very slightly convex, the ridge indistinct, narrowed at the base; the sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip extremely sharp; gape-line ascending at the base, afterwards direct; lower mandible with the angle long and of moderate width, the dorsal line and that of the crura slightly concave, the sides erect at the base, convex towards the end, the edges slightly inflected, the tip extremely slender. Nostrils basal, elliptical, with a small operculum. Head ovate, of moderate size; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tarsus much compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes of moderate size, the hind toe much stronger, the lateral about equal, the third and fourth united at the base. Claws rather long, moderately arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, with the outer four quills nearly equal. Tail of moderate length, rounded and slightly emarginate. Roof of the upper mandible with a broad median ridge, somewhat prominent at the base; tongue tapering to a deeply slit point; œsophagus wide, considerably dilated about the middle; stomach elliptical; intestine short, and of moderate width; cœca very small; cloaca globular.

217. 1. Icterus Baltimore, Linn. Baltimore Hangnest.—Golden Robin.

Plate XII. Adult and Young Male. Plate CCCCXXIII. Fig. 3. Female.

Second and third quills longest, fourth longer than first; tail slightly rounded. Male with the head, throat, sides, and hind part of the neck, with the fore part of the back, black; lower parts, rump, upper tail-coverts, and smaller wing-coverts rich orange, passing into orange-red on the breast; wings black, the secondary coverts largely tipped, and the quills margined with white; tail black, all the feathers tipped with rich yellow, the outer for half their length, the middle on a very small space. Female considerably smaller, with the upper part of the head, hind neck, sides of the neck at the middle, and anterior half of the back, brownish-black, the feathers edged with dull yellowish-green; hind part of the back light brownish-yellow, purer on the rump; tail yellowish-brown, the middle feathers darker; wing-coverts blackish-brown, quills dark brown, all margined with whitish; first row of small coverts and secondary coverts largely tipped with white; loral space, a band over the eye, and another beneath it, dull yellow; below the latter the cheeks spotted with dusky; lower parts yellowish-orange, duller than in the male, paler behind; some dusky streaks on the throat. Young similar to the female, but with the upper parts brownish-yellow, the head and back faintly spotted with dusky.

Male, 7³/₄, 12. Female, 7, 11.

In summer dispersed over the United States, to Nova Scotia. Columbia River. Texas. Abundant. Migratory.

Baltimore Oriole, Oriolus Baltimore, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 23.

Icterus Baltimore, Bonap. Syn. p. 51.

Baltimore Oriole or Golden Robin, Icterus Baltimore, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 152.

Baltimore Oriole, Icterus Baltimore, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 66; v. v. p. 278.

218. 2. Icterus Bullockii, Swains. Bullock's Hangnest.

Plate CCCLXXXVIII. Fig. 5. Male.

Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 1. Young Male. Fig. 2. Female.

First quill longer than fifth, the intermediate quills almost equal. Male with the upper part of the head, the hind neck, and the anterior portion of the back, with the loral space, some feathers at the base of the lower mandible, and a rather narrow longitudinal band on the fore neck, deep black; anterior part of the forehead, a band over the eye, the cheeks, sides of the neck, and the breast, rich orange-yellow, the rest of the lower parts paler; lower wing-coverts and anterior edge of the wing pale yellow; hind parts of the back and upper tail-coverts yellow tinged with green; wings brownish-black, with a large patch of white formed by the outer small coverts and the edges of the secondary coverts; quills edged with white; four middle tail-feathers black, the rest orange-yellow, with a dusky patch near the end. Female smaller, with the upper parts greyish-olive, lighter on the rump; on the head and upper tail-coverts tinged with yellow; loral space somewhat dusky; anterior part of the forehead, a band over the eye, the cheeks, and sides of the neck, with the fore part of the breast, light greenish-yellow; throat dull white, the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, slightly tinged with yellow; wings dark brown, the larger small coverts tipped with greyish-white; secondary coverts and quills edged with the same; tail dull olivaceous-yellow. Young like the female.

Male, 7¹/₄, wing, 4¹/₁₂.

Rocky Mountains, Columbia River, and California. Common. Migratory.

Xanthornus Bullockii, Swains. Syn. of Mex. Birds, Phil. Mag. 1827, p. 436.

Bullock's Troopial, Icterus Bullockii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 9.

219. 3. Icterus spurius, Gmel. Orchard Hangnest.—Orchard Oriole.

Plate XLII. Male, Female, and Young.

Tail much rounded. Male with the head, neck, and fore part of the back, black; the rest of the body chestnut-red; quills and larger coverts black, the former margined, the latter tipped with greyish-white; tail-feathers black, tipped with dull white. Female with the head and upper parts dull yellowish-green, the fore part of the back tinged with brown; lower parts pale yellow; wings and tail greyish-brown, the feathers of the former margined with greyish-white, of the latter with yellowish-green. Young, like the female. Young males in various stages variously coloured.

Male, 6¹/₂, 9.

From Texas to Connecticut, over the valley of the Mississippi, Kentucky, and Ohio. Abundant. Rare in Massachusetts and Maine. Missouri to the bases of the Rocky Mountains. Migratory.

Orchard Oriole, Oriolus mutatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 64.

Icterus spurius, Bonap. Syn. p. 51.

Spurious or Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 165.

Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 221; v. v. p. 485.

GENUS V. QUISCALUS, Vieill. CROW-BLACKBIRD.

Bill as long as the head or somewhat longer, nearly straight, strong, tapering, compressed from the base; upper mandible with its outline slightly declinate, a little convex, the ridge narrow at the base and encroaching a little on the forehead, afterwards broad, rounded, and indistinct, the sides convex, the edges sharp and direct, or slightly inflected, with a faint festoon anterior to the nostrils, the tip deflected, acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, slightly deflected at the end, the ridge convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip very acute. Nostrils basal, oval, half-closed by a membrane. Head of moderate size, ovate, flattened above; neck of moderate length; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus as long as the middle toe and claw, compressed, with eight anterior scutella; toes rather long, with large scutella, the hind toe stronger, the lateral toes nearly equal, the middle toe much longer. Claws rather long, slightly arched, compressed, not laterally grooved, acute. Plumage blended, highly glossed. Wings of moderate length, the second and third quills longest, the first and fourth little shorter. Tail long, graduated or rounded, the feathers flat or slightly concave, slightly emarginate, with the inner webs longer than the outer. Roof of the upper mandible concave with three longitudinal ridges, of which the middle is enlarged at the base and prominent; tongue slender, sagittate, concave above, tapering to a thin lacerated point; œsophagus rather wide, considerably dilated about the middle; stomach of moderate size, elliptical or roundish, moderately muscular, the lateral muscles distinct, the epithelium dense, horny, slightly rugous, with two roundish grinding surfaces; intestine of moderate length, rather wide; cœca very small; cloaca oblong.

220. 1. Quiscalus major, Vieill. Great Crow-Blackbird.—Boat-tailed Grakle.

Plate CLXXXVII. Male and Female.

Tail very long, graduated, with the feathers slightly concave above. Male with the plumage silky, splendent, the head and neck deep purplish-blue, the back, breast, and sides deep blue, passing into green behind, the rump bronzed black; the wings and tail black, glossed with green, the abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and tibial feathers, plain black. Female much smaller, with the tail shorter, the plumage unglossed beneath, and but slightly glossy above, the upper parts dusky, with slight tints of green and blue; the head and neck dull brown; the lower parts light yellowish-brown, the tibial feathers and lower tail-coverts dusky.

Male, 15⁷/₈, 23³/₄. Female, 12⁵/₈, 18.

Abundant from Texas to North Carolina along the coast. Up the Mississippi about 200 miles. Constantly resident.

Quiscalus major, Bonap. Syn. p. 54.

Great Crow Blackbird, Quiscalus major, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 35.

Great Crow Blackbird, Quiscalus major, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 192.

Boat-tailed Grakle or Great Crow Blackbird, Quiscalus major, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 504; v. v. p. 480.

221. 2. Quiscalus versicolor, Vieill. Common or Purple Crow-Blackbird.—Purple Grakle.

Plate VII. Male and Female.

Tail long, much rounded, with the feathers flat. Male with the plumage silky and splendent, the head, neck, and anterior part of the breast blackish, with vivid reflections of violet, steel-blue, and green; general colour of the body dusky, glossed with purple, green, and blue, these colours arranged in three terminal zones, on each feather; rump violet-purple; wings and tail black, glossed with green and blue. Female considerably smaller, with the body more brown, the reflections much less brilliant. Young brown.

Male, 13, 19. Female, 11, 16.

Breeds from Texas to the Fur Countries. Resident in the Southern States. Extremely abundant.

Purple Grakle, Gracula quiscala, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 44.

Purple Grakle, Gracula quiscala, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 42.

Gracula quiscala, Bonap. Syn. p. 54.

Common Crow Blackbird, Quiscalus versicolor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 194; v. v. p. 481.

Quiscalus versicolor, Common Purple Boat-tail, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 485.

Purple Grakle or Common Crow Blackbird, Quiscalus versicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 35; v. v. p. 481.

222. 3. Quiscalus ferrugineus, Lath. Rusty Crow-Blackbird.—Rusty Grakle.

Plate CXLVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Tail of moderate length, slightly rounded. Male with the plumage glossy black, with green and bluish reflections, the feathers, when new, slightly margined with reddish. Female with the plumage somewhat duller, a reddish band over, and another under, the eye. Young with the head and neck light brown, the rest of the upper parts brownish-black, the feathers edged with light reddish-brown, the rump tinged with grey; a band over the eye, and the fore part and sides of the neck and body pale yellowish-brown; abdomen dusky, lower tail-coverts dusky brown.

Male, 9¹/₂, 14¹/₄.

From Texas to Maryland, and along the Mississippi and Ohio to Kentucky, during winter. Migrates northward to the Fur Countries, and to the Columbia River, in summer. Common.

Rusty Grakle, Gracula ferruginea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 41.

Quiscalus ferrugineus, Bonap. Syn. p. 55.

Scolecophagus ferrugineus, Rusty Maggot-eater, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 286.

Rusty Blackbird, Quiscalus ferrugineus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 199.

Rusty Grakle, Quiscalus ferrugineus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 325; v. v. p. 483.

FAMILY XVII. STURNINÆ. STARLINGS.

Bill nearly as long as the head, moderately stout, or rather slender, nearly straight, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its outline straight, slightly convex toward the tip, the ridge somewhat flattened, the sides sloping and convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a very slight or obsolete notch, close to the depressed tip; lower mandible with the angle long and rather acute, the crura rather broad and flat at the base, the dorsal line straight, the edges sharp, the tip slender; gape-line ascending gently at the base, then direct. Head ovate or oblong, flattened above; neck of moderate length; body rather full. Feet moderately stout; tarsus rather short, compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes moderate, or rather long, the first stouter, the lateral toes equal, the outer adherent at the base. Claws rather long, moderately arched, compressed, acute. Plumage rather compact. Wings of moderate length, with the first quill very small, the third and fourth longest. Tail short or of moderate length, rounded, and generally emarginate. Roof of upper mandible with a median ridge; tongue slender, thin-edged, with the tip slit and lacerated; œsophagus without dilatation; stomach roundish, its muscular coat rather thin, the epithelium dense, and longitudinally rugous; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca very small, cylindrical; cloaca ovate or oblong. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, or in cavities; eggs about five.

GENUS I. STURNELLA, Vieill. MEADOW-STARLING.

Bill rather long, almost straight, conico-subulate, depressed toward the end; upper mandible with the ridge somewhat flattened, the edges sharp and overlapping; the tip narrow, but rounded; lower mandible with the outline straight, the ridge convex, the sides ascending; the tip slightly rounded. Nostrils oval, with an arched membrane above. Head of ordinary size, depressed; neck of moderate length; body rather full. Feet of moderate length, strong; tarsus distinctly scutellate; lateral toes nearly equal, hind toe stout. Claws arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe large. Plumage rather compact. Upper eyelid margined with strong bristles. Wings of moderate length, broad; the second, third, and fourth quills longest; one of the inner secondaries nearly as long when the wing is closed. Tail short, much rounded, of twelve acute feathers.

223. 1. Sturnella Ludoviciana, Linn. Crescent Meadow-Starling.—Meadow Lark.

Plate CXXXVI. Male and Female.

Upper parts variegated with dark brown, bay, and dull yellowish, the latter bordering the feathers; those of the hind parts of the back barred, as are the secondary quills and their coverts; primary quills dark brown, margined, the outer with whitish, the rest with pale yellowish; edge of the wing yellow; three outer tail-feathers white, with a dash of black on the outer web near the end, the next feather also more or less white, and barred on the outer web; on the upper part of the head a central and two lateral bands of brownish-yellow, the lateral hand sometimes white, anteriorly tinged with yellow; sides of the head and neck greyish-white, flanks and lower tail-coverts reddish-white, streaked with black; fore neck and breast rich yellow, the former with a large crescent of black. Female smaller, but otherwise similar.

Male, 11²/₁₂, 16¹/₂.

Breeds from Texas to the Columbia River, and along the Atlantic coast to Nova Scotia and the Fur Countries. Resident in the Southern and Western States. Abundant.

Meadow Lark, Alauda magna, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 20.

Sturnus ludovicianus, Bonap. Syn.

Sturnus ludovicianus, Crescent Starlet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 282.

American Starling or Meadow Lark, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 147.

Meadow Lark or American Starling, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 216; v. v. p. 492.

FAMILY XVIII. CORVINÆ. CROWS.

Bill about the length of the head, robust, nearly straight, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line more or less arched, its tip slightly deflected, the edges sharp, with a slight notch or sinus. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by reversed slender stiff feathers. Head rather large, ovate; neck of moderate length, body compact. Feet of ordinary length, rather stout; tarsus compressed, with about eight large scutella; toes four, first stronger, but about the same length as the second and fourth, which latter is adherent at the base. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage various; wings long or of moderate length, much rounded, the first quill about half the length of the fourth or fifth, which are longest; tail of twelve broad feathers. Upper mandible concave, with several longitudinal ridges; tongue oblong, flat above, horny, thin edged, with the tip slit and lacerated; œsophagus of moderate width, without dilatation; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach, a gizzard of moderate power, with a rugous dense epithelium; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca small, cylindrical, adnate. Trachea with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest in high places, or in cavities, rudely constructed; eggs from four to six, ovate or oblong.

GENUS I. CORVUS, Linn. CROW.

Bill rather long, stout, considerably compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate and arched, the sides somewhat convex, the edges nearly straight, and overlapping, the notches faint, the tip declinate, rather sharp; lower mandible with the angle rather long, and of moderate width, the dorsal line ascending, and slightly convex, the edges direct, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, lateral, round, covered by narrow stiff feathers directed forwards. Head large, ovate; neck rather short; body robust. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus stout, compressed, with eight scutella; toes of moderate length, stout, first and second nearly equal, fourth longer, and slightly adherent at the base. Claws strong, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage compact, glossed. Wings long, with the first quill short, the fourth longest. Tail of moderate length, rounded. Roof of upper mandible concave, with five ridges; tongue emargined and papillate at the base, horny toward the end, thin-edged, with the point slit.

224. 1. Corvus Corax, Linn. Raven.

Plate CI. Male.

Feathers of the fore neck lanceolate and elongated; tail much rounded; plumage deep black, glossed with blue and purplish-blue, the lower parts with green. Young with the feathers of the throat oblong, the upper parts less glossy, the lower dull greyish-black.

Male, 26, 50.

From the Highlands of South Carolina, northward to the Polar Seas. Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Canada. Rocky Mountains and Columbia River. Rather common in some parts.

Raven, Corvus Corax, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 136.

Corvus Corax, Bonap. Syn. p. 56.

Corvus Corax, Raven, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 290.

Raven, Corvus Corax, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 202.

Raven, Corvus Corax, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 1; v. v. p. 476.

225. 2. Corvus Americanus, Aud. American Crow.

Plate CLVI. Male.

Feathers of the head and neck oval and blended; fourth quill longest; general colour black, with purplish-blue reflections; the hind parts of the neck tinged with purplish-brown; the lower parts less glossy. Young of a rather dull brownish-black, with the blue and purple reflections much less brilliant.

Male, 18, 38.

Generally distributed from the Gulf of Mexico to Columbia River; throughout the interior, and along the coast, northward to Lat. 55°. Congregates in immense numbers in the Southern and Western States during winter.

Crow, Corvus Corone, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 79.

Cervus Corone, Bonap. Syn. p. 56.

Cervus Corone, Crow, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 291.

Crow, Corvus Corone, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 209.

American Crow, Corvus Americanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 317; v. v. p. 477.

226. 3. Corvus ossifragus, Wils. Fish-Crow.

Plate CXLVI. Male and Female.

Feathers of the head and neck oval and blended; third quill longest; tail considerably rounded, a small space at the base of the lower mandible on each side bare; general colour black, with blue and purple reflections above, blue and greenish beneath. Young brownish-black, with the blue and purple reflections less brilliant.

Male, 16, 33, Female, 15, 31.

From the mouths of the Mississippi upwards to Natchez, and along the Atlantic to New York. Common. Resident in the Southern States. Columbia River.

Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 27.

Corvus ossifragus, Bonap. Syn. p. 57.

Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 216.

Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 268; v. v. p. 479.

GENUS II. PICA, Briss. MAGPIE.

Bill of moderate length, stout, considerably compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line declinate and arched, the sides convex, the ridge narrow, the edges nearly straight and overlapping, the notches faint, the tip declinate, and rather sharp; lower mandible with the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges inclinate, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by narrow stiff feathers directed forwards. Head large, ovate; neck rather short; body compact. Legs of moderate length, strong; tarsus stout, compressed, with eight scutella; toes of moderate length, stout, first large, stronger; lateral nearly equal, third considerably longer. Claws strong, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage full, soft, blended. Wings of moderate length, much rounded, the first quill very short, extremely narrow and falciform, fourth and fifth longest. Tail very long, graduated. Digestive organs as in Corvus.

227. 1. Pica melanoleuca, Vieill. Common Magpie.

Plate CCCLVII. Male and Female.

Bill black; head, neck, fore part of breast and back black, glossed with green and blue; middle of the back greyish-white; scapulars white; smaller wing-coverts black, secondary coverts, alula and primary coverts splendent with green and blue; primaries black, glossed with green, their inner webs white, except at the end, and for some way along their margin; secondaries bright blue, changing to green, their inner webs greenish-black; tail splendent with bright green, changing to greenish-yellow, purplish-red, bluish-purple, and dark green at the end; breast and sides pure white; legs, abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and lower wing-coverts, black.

Male, 18¹/₂, 22¹/₂.

Interior of Texas, West Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Rocky Mountains, and Saskatchewan. Common. Resident.

Corvus Pica, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 157.

Magpie, Corvus Pica, Wils. Amer. Orn.

Corvus Pica, Bonap. Syn. p. 57.

Magpie, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 219.

Common Magpie, Corvus Pica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 408.

228. 2. Pica Nuttallii, Aud. Yellow-billed Magpie.

Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 1. Male.

Bill and bare space beneath the eyes yellow; in form, proportion, and size, similar to the last; the feathers of the tail narrower; the colours similar, but the top of the head glossed with green, and the black of the back and fore neck tinged with brown.

Male, 18; wing, 7³/₄.

Upper California. Common. Resident.

Corvus Nuttali, Yellow-billed Magpie, Aud. Orn. Biog, v. iv. p. 450.

229. 3. Pica Bullockii, Wagler. Columbia Magpie.—Columbia Jay.

Plate XCVI. Adult.

Feathers of the head long and recurvate; tail extremely elongated; general colour blue; cheeks, fore neck, and anterior part of the breast black, the rest of the lower parts, with the tips of the outer four tail-feathers on each side, white.

Male, 31, 26.

Woody portions of North California.

Columbia Jay, Garrulus Bullockii, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 220.

Columbia Jay, Corvus Bullockii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 483.

GENUS III. GARRULUS, Briss. JAY.

Bill of moderate length, strong, straight, compressed, rather pointed; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge scarcely distinct, the sides sloping, the edges nearly straight, sharp, and overlapping, the notches slight, the tip slightly depressed; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, rather wide, the dorsal line ascending, slightly convex, the sides sloping outwards, the edges direct, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, elliptical, covered by reversed stiffish feathers. Head rather large; neck short; body stout. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with eight scutella; toes moderate, the first large, the outer considerably longer than the inner; claws well-arched, rather long, compressed, acute. Plumage blended; small bristles at the base of the upper mandible; feathers of the head generally elongated; wings rather short, first quill very short, fourth and fifth longest; tail rather long, much rounded. Roof of upper mandible concave, with three ridges; digestive organs as in Corvus.

230. 1. Garrulus Stelleri, Gmel. Steller's Jay.

Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 2. Male.

Occipital crest of linear-oblong, slightly recurved feathers; tail long, moderately rounded; head, neck, and fore part of back brownish-black, feathers of the forehead tipped with light blue; hind part of back, rump, upper tail-coverts and lower parts light blue; wings blue, secondary quills and their coverts rich ultramarine, narrowly barred with black, outer webs of primaries paler, their inner webs dusky; tail blue, with numerous narrow inconspicuous dusky bars.

Male, 13, wing 5¹¹/₁₂.

Rocky Mountains, Columbia River, and north-west coast. Common. Migratory.

Corvus Stelleri, Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 370.

Corvus Stelleri, Bonap. Syn. p. 433.

Steller's Jay, Corvus Stelleri, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 44.

Garrulus Stelleri, Steller's Jay, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 294.

Steller's Jay, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 229.

Steller's Jay, Corvus Stelleri, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 453.

231. 2. Garrulus cristatus, Linn. Blue Jay.

Plate CII. Male and Female.

Feathers of the head elongated, oblong; tail much rounded. Upper parts light purplish-blue; wings and tail ultramarine, secondaries, their coverts, and tail-feathers barred with black, and tipped with white; a narrow band margining the forehead, loral space, and a band round the neck, black; throat and cheeks bluish-white; lower parts greyish-white tinged with brown.

Male, 12, 14.

Breeds from Texas eastward and northward to the Fur Countries, and as far as the bases of the Rocky Mountains. Abundant. Resident in the Middle, Interior, and Southern States.

Blue Jay, Corvus cristatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 2.

Corvus cristatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 58.

Garrulus cristatus, Blue Jay, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 293.

Blue Jay, Corvus cristatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 11; v. v. p. 475.

232. 3. Garrulus ultramarinus, Bonap. Ultramarine Jay.

Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 3. Male.

Feathers of the head short; tail much rounded; upper part of head, sides, and hind part of neck, wings and tail, with its coverts, light blue; back light greyish-brown; a faint band over the eye, formed by the tips of the feathers; cheeks dusky; fore neck greyish-white, faintly streaked with dusky, and banded below by a narrow semilunar band of light blue, continuous with that of the neck; lower parts pale grey passing into white.

Male, 12, wing 5⁸/₁₂.

Columbia River, and Upper California. Common. Migratory.

Ultramarine Jay, Corvus ultramarinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 456.

233. 4. Garrulus Floridanus, Bartram. Florida Jay.

Feathers of the head short; tail much rounded; upper part of head, sides, and hind part of neck, wings and tail, with its coverts, light blue; back very light greyish-brown; a bluish-white band over the forehead and eyes; cheeks dusky; fore neck greyish-white, with the shafts of the feathers dusky, and bordered below by a rather broad band of light blue, continuous with that of the neck; lower parts pale purplish-grey.

Intimately allied in colour to the Ultramarine Jay, but distinguishable by its smaller size, and more rounded tail, and by its having a band of whitish across the forehead, and extended over the eye, where it is not in dots as in that species.

Male, 11¹/₄, 14.

Confined to the Floridas. Not very common. Resident.

Corvus floridanus, Bonap. Syn. p. 58.

Florida Jay, Garrulus floridanus, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p.

Florida Jay, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 230.

Florida Jay, Corvus floridanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 444.

234. 5. Garrulus Canadensis, Linn. Canada Jay.

Plate CVII. Male and Female. Plate CCCCXXX. Fig. 3. Young.

Upper parts dull leaden-grey; lower dull yellowish-white; forehead yellowish-white; hind part of the head and neck greyish-black; throat and band passing round the neck, greyish-white; secondary quills and tail-feathers narrowly tipped with white. Young very dull slate-colour, paler on the abdomen, on the head blackish, wings and tail as in the adult, their tips of a duller white.

Male, 11, 15.

Rare, and only in winter, from Pennsylvania to New York. More abundant in Massachusetts. Common from Maine northward to the Fur Countries. Columbia River.

Canada Jay, Corvus canadensis, Wils. Amer. Ornith. v. iii. p. 33.

Corvus canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 58.

Garrulus canadensis, Whisky Jack, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 295.

Garrulus brachyurus, Short-billed Jay, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 296. Young.

Garrulus canadensis, Canada Jay, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 232.

Short-billed Jay. Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 599.

Canada Jay, Corvus canadensis. Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 58; v. v. p. 208.

GENUS IV. NUCIFRAGA, Briss. NUTCRACKER.

Bill as long as the head, moderately stout, conical, compressed, at the tip rather depressed; upper mandible with its dorsal line slightly arcuato-declinate, the ridge convex, the sides rounded, the edges sharp and overlapping, without notch, the tip flattened and obtuse; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges sharpened a little involute, the tip flattened and rather obtuse. Nostrils basal, lateral, roundish, covered by bristly feathers, which are directed forwards. Head large, broadly ovate, neck rather short; body moderately stout. Tarsus rather short, compressed, with eight scutella; toes stout, the first very large, the inner a little shorter than the outer, which is adherent at the base. Claws large, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended; no distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible, wings long, much rounded, the first quill very short, the fourth longest; tail of moderate length, rounded.

235. 1. Nucifraga Columbiana, Wils. Columbian Nutcracker.—Clark's Crow.

Plate CCCLXII. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.

Light brownish-grey; forehead, throat, fore part of cheeks, and space round the eye yellowish-white; wings glossy bluish-black, seven of the secondaries largely tipped with white; upper tail-coverts greyish-black; tail pure white, except the two middle feathers, and the greater part of the inner webs of the next pair, which are bluish-black.

Male, 12, wing 7¹¹/₁₂.

Rocky Mountains.

Clarke's Crow, Corvus columbianus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 29.

Corvus columbianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 57.

Columbian Crow, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 218.

Clarke's Nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 459.

FAMILY XIX. LANIINÆ. SHRIKES.

Bill short, or of moderate length, stout, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; the gape-line slightly arched, the ridge narrow, the notch and dentiform process large, the tip narrow and decurved. Head large, roundish, ovate; neck short; body compact. Legs of moderate length; tarsus compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes moderate, compressed; hind toe rather stout, lateral about equal, the outer adherent at the base. Claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles rather strong. Wings and tail various. Roof of upper mandible narrow, with a median ridge; tongue slender, concave above, horny toward the end, with the margins lacerated, and the tip slit; œsophagus wide, uniform; proventriculus elliptical; stomach broadly elliptical or roundish; its muscular coat thin, the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small; cloaca oblong or globular. Trachea simple; four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. LANIUS, Linn. SHRIKE, or BUTCHER-BIRD.

Bill of moderate length, strong, compressed; upper mandible with the dorsal line a little arched, towards the end decurved, the sides convex, the edges direct, with a large prominence succeeded by a deep notch, the tip decurved and acute; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex, the sides convex, the edges inflected, the tip ascending, acute. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, concealed by the bristly feathers. Head large, broadly ovate; neck short; body robust. Tarsus rather short, compressed, slender, with eight scutella; toes small, the first stout, the lateral nearly equal. Claws rather large, arched, compressed, extremely acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles stiff. Wings of ordinary length, first quill very short, fourth longest. Tail long, graduated, or rounded.

236. 1. Lanius borealis, Vieill. Great American Shrike.

Plate CXCII. Male and Female.

Fourth quill longest, third little shorter, second shorter than sixth, first half the length of second; tail long, graduated; bill brownish-black at the end, paler towards the base; upper parts light ash-grey, the ends of the scapulars and the upper tail-coverts grayish-white; a streak of whitish over the eye; loral space and a patch behind the eye brownish-black; first row of smaller wing-coverts, larger coverts, and quills, brownish-black; secondary quills and coverts edged and tipped with whitish; base of primaries white, forming a conspicuous patch, when the wing is extended; tail-feathers brownish-black, outer web of lateral feathers, and more than a third of its inner web from the tip, white; the extremities of all the rest, excepting the middle two, also white, gradually occupying less extent on the inner feathers; lower parts greyish-white, the fore part of the breast tinged with brown, and faintly marked with transverse undulating lines of dark grey, as are the sides. Female similar, but with the head and neck slightly tinged with brown, and the lower parts more banded.

Lanius Excubitor differs in being considerably smaller, and in having the white on the wings and tail more extended, the bases and a great portion of the inner webs of the secondaries, except the inner three, being of that colour, as well as the bases of the primaries, and forming a conspicuous spot when the wing is closed, and the outer tail-feathers being often white in their whole length.

Male, 10²/₁₂, 14²/₁₂.

Breeds from Pennsylvania northward. During winter, migrates westward to the Mississippi, and as far south as Natchez. Not uncommon.

Great American Shrike or Butcher Bird, Lanius Excubitor, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 74.

Lanius septentrionalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 72.

Lanius borealis, Greater Northern Shrike, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 111.

Great American Shrike, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 258.

Great American Shrike, Lanius Excubitor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 534; v. v. p. 434.

237. 2. Lanius Ludovicianus, Linn. Loggerheaded Shrike.

Plate LVII. Male and Female.

Third quill longest, fourth scarcely shorter, second and sixth equal; tail rather long, graduated; bill black, upper parts deep leaden-grey, lower greyish-white, the sides bluish-grey; a streak of whitish over the eye, and margining the forehead; loral space, and a patch behind the eye, black; posterior scapulars almost entirely white; quills and coverts black, secondaries narrowly tipped with white; bases of primaries white, forming a conspicuous patch on the extended wing; tail-feathers black, all except the middle pair white at the end, that colour occupying nearly two-thirds of the outer, and gradually diminishing on the rest. Female with the plumage somewhat darker. Young brownish-white beneath, the breast and sides transversely barred with dark grey.

Male, 8¹/₂, 13.

From Louisiana to Carolina, laterally to the Columbia River, and northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Resident in the south. Migratory in the north.

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius Carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 57.

Lanius ludovicianus, Bonap. Syn. p. 72.

Lanius Excubitorides, American Grey Shrike, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 115.

Loggerhead Shrike, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 261.

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius Ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 300; v. v. p. 300.

FAMILY XX. VIREONINÆ. GREENLETS.

Bill of moderate length, straight, rather stout, compressed toward the end; gape-line slightly arched, notches distinct, tip very small, declinate. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length; tarsus compressed, slender, with seven anterior scutella; toes rather small, hind toe rather stout, lateral equal. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, rather pointed. Tail of moderate length, even or emarginate. Roof of upper mandible concave, with a median ridge; tongue narrow, flat above, with the point slit; œsophagus of moderate length, without dilatation; stomach, roundish, muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; intestine short, and rather wide; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. VIREO, Vieill. GREENLET.

Bill rather short or of moderate length, rather strong, straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping and towards the end somewhat convex, the edges straight, the notches distinct, the tip small, decurved, acute; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and rather narrow, the dorsal line ascending and rather convex, the sides convex, the edges inclinate, the tip acute and ascending. Nostrils basal, oblong. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body rather stout. Tarsus rather short, slender, compressed, with seven scutella; toes small, first large, inner considerably shorter than outer, which is adnate at the base. Plumage soft and blended; bristles small. Wings rather long, with the second and third quills longest, the first not much shorter. Tail of moderate length, nearly even.

238. 1. Vireo flavifrons, Vieill. Yellow-throated Greenlet.

Plate CXIX. Male.

Upper parts light green, the rump, scapulars, and smaller wing-coverts bluish-grey; quills and coverts brownish-black; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; primaries narrower, edged with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brownish-black, the outer edged with white; sides of the neck yellowish-green; a line over the eye, throat, and breast yellow, the rest of the lower parts white.

Male, 5³/₄, 9¹/₂.

From Texas to Nova Scotia. Rare in the interior, more abundant in the middle Atlantic districts. Migratory.

Yellow-throated Flycatcher, Muscicapa sylvicola, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 117.

Vireo flavifrons, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

Yellow-throated Vireo, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 302.

Yellow-throated Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 119; v. v. p. 428.

239. 2. Vireo solitarius, Vieill. Solitary Greenlet.

Plate XXVIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts light olive-green, head greyish-blue; lower white, the sides greenish-yellow; eyelids and a band of white from the bill over the eye; a dusky spot before the eye; quills and coverts brownish-black; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; primaries narrowly edged with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brownish-black, the outer edged with white; head and sides of neck inclining to greyish-blue.

Male, 5¹/₂, 8¹/₂.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, rather abundant. Rare in the interior. Columbia River. Migratory.

Solitary Flycatcher, Muscicapa solitaria, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 143.

Vireo solitarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 79.

Solitary Vireo or Flycatcher, Vireo solitarius, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 305.

Solitary Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo solitarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 147; v. v. p. 432.

240. 3. Vireo Noveboracensis, Gmel. White-eyed Greenlet.

Plate LXIII. Male.

Upper parts light green, inclining to olivaceous, forehead tinged with yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides yellow; eyelids and a band from the bill over the eye yellow; quills and coverts brown; two bands of yellowish-white on the wing formed by the tips of the secondary coverts, and first row of small coverts; primaries narrowly margined with yellowish-green, secondaries broadly with white; tail-feathers brown, without white edgings; iris white.

Male, 5, 7.

Throughout the United States and Nova Scotia. Columbia River. Migratory, but great numbers spend the winter in the Southern States.

White-eyed Flycatcher, Muscicapa cantatrix, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 266.

Vireo noveboracensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

White-eyed Vireo or Flycatcher, Vireo noveboracensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 806.

White-eyed Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo noveboracensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 328; v. v. p. 431, 433.

241. 4. Vireo gilvus, Vieill. Warbling Greenlet.

Plate CXVIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts light greenish-olive, the head and hind neck greyish-brown; a white band over the eye; wings and tail brown, quills edged with green; lower parts dull yellowish-white, the sides tinged with yellow.

Male, 5¹/₄, 8¹/₂.

From Texas to Maine, and in the interior to Columbia River. Abundant. Migratory.

Warbling Flycatcher, Muscicapa melodia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 85.

Vireo gilvus, Bonap. Syn. p. 70.

Warbling Vireo, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 309.

Warbling Flycatcher or Vireo, Vireo gilvus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 114; v. v. p. 433.

242. 5. Vireo Bartrami, Swains. Bartram's Greenlet.

Plate CCCCXXXIV. Fig. 4. Male.

Wings of moderate length, with the second and third quills longest and about equal, the fourth scarcely shorter, the first considerably shorter than the fifth. Upper parts light yellowish-olive, the crown of the head deep grey, bordered on each side by a blackish line, below which is a band of yellowish-white from the nostril over the eye; loral space dusky; quills and tail-feathers brown, margined with greenish-yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides greenish-yellow.

Male, 4⁷/₈, 7³/₄.

From Texas to New York. Not met with in the interior. Rather rare. Migratory.

Vireo Bartramii, Swains. Bartram's Greenlet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 235.

Bartram's Vireo, Vireo Bartramii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 296.

243. 6. Vireo olivaceus, Linn. Red-eyed Greenlet.

Plate CL. Male.

Wings long, with the second quill longest, the third slightly shorter, the first considerably longer than the fourth, upper parts light yellowish-olive, crown of the head deep grey, bordered on each side by a blackish line, below which is a band of white; quills and tail-feathers brown, margined with greenish-yellow; lower parts greyish-white, the sides greenish-yellow; iris red.

Male, 5¹/₂, 9.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, and through the interior. Accidental in the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Red-eyed Flycatcher, Muscicapa olivacea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 55.

Vireo olivaceus, Bonap. Syn. p. 71.

Vireo olivaceus, Red-eyed Greenlet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 233.

Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 287; v. v. p. 430.

FAMILY XXI. PIPRINÆ. MANAKINS.

Bill short, stout, straight, depressed, being much broader than high at the base, with the dorsal line arched, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping, the gape-line straightish or slightly arched, the notches rather large, the tip very small and declinate. Head rather large, broadly ovate; neck short; body compact. Tarsus of moderate length, compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes small, the hind one not much stouter, the lateral equal. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft, full, and blended. Wings of moderate length, broad, and rounded. Tail short or of moderate length, generally rounded. Roof of upper mandible concave, with a prominent median line; tongue triangular, horny, thin-edged, rather obtuse, bristly at the end; œsophagus wide, without dilatation; stomach rather small, roundish, moderately muscular, with a dense rugous epithelium; intestine short, of moderate width; cœca very small.

GENUS I. ICTERIA. Vieill. CHAT.

Bill of moderate length, stout, slightly arched, broad at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the sides convex, the edges sharp, destitute of notch, the tip acute and a little declinate; lower mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, the edge-line slightly arched and inflected. Nostrils roundish, half covered by a vaulted membrane. General form rather robust; head ovate, neck short, body moderate. Legs of moderate length, slender; tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with eight scutella, of which the upper are blended; two lateral toes nearly equal, the hind one not much stouter. Claws moderate, arch much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles very small. Wings of moderate length, rounded, third and fourth primaries longest, second little shorter, first longer than sixth. Tail rather long, rounded.

244. 1. Icteria viridis, Gmel. Yellow-breasted Chat.

Plate CXXXVII. Male and Female.

Upper parts deep olive-green; fore part of neck and breast bright yellow; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white; eyelids, a band over the eye, and a shorter one from the base of lower mandible, white; loral space black.

Male, 7, 9.

From Texas to Connecticut. Inland as far as Kentucky. Abundant. Migratory.

Yellow-breasted Chat, Pipra polyglotta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 90.

Icteria viridis, Bonap. Syn. p. 69.

Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria viridis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 299.

Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria viridis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 223; v. v. p. 433.

FAMILY XXII. AMPELINÆ. CHATTERERS.

Bill short, depressed, rather weak, triangular when viewed from above, compressed at the end, its upper outline arched, the gape-line nearly straight, the notches very small, the tip very small and declinate. Nostrils elliptical, partially concealed by reversed bristly feathers. Head ovate; neck short; body moderate or full. Feet short; tarsus short, rather stout, compressed; toes rather small. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage generally blended and glossy. Wings of moderate length, broad. Tail short or of moderate length. Roof of upper mandible rather concave, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue horny, deeply slit; œsophagus very wide, dilated about the middle; stomach small, elliptical, moderately muscular; intestine of moderate length and very wide; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of very small inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. BOMBYCILLA, Briss. WAXWING.

Bill short, rather stout, straightish, broader than high at the base, compressed towards the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line convex and declinate towards the tip, which is deflected, narrow, and rather acute, its sides convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the notches distinct; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line convex and ascending, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip very small, acute, ascending, with a small sinus behind; gape-line nearly straight. Nostrils oval, partially concealed by the reversed stiffish feathers. Head of ordinary size, ovate; neck short; body full. Feet rather short; tarsus short, rather stout, compressed, with six scutella; toes of moderate size, first stout, broad beneath, outer slightly adherent at the base; inner a little shorter. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage blended, very soft, somewhat silky, but with little gloss; head tufted; no bristles. Wings rather long, broad, and pointed, the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, even. This genus is remarkable for the oblong bright red horny appendages to the tips of the wings and tail-feathers, which, however, are not seen in all the species. Roof of upper mandible slightly concave, with three ridges; tongue triangular, concave, horny, deep slit, with two slender points; œsophagus very wide, much dilated about the middle; stomach rather small, elliptical, muscular; intestine short and extremely wide; cœca very small.

245. 1. Bombycilla garrula, Vieill. Black-throated Waxwing.—Bohemian Chatterer.

Plate CCCLXIII. Male and Female.

General colour light greyish-brown, passing behind in ash-grey, before into brownish-orange, of which colour are the forehead, a patch on each side of the throat near the base of the bill, and the feathers under the tail; a band of deep black from the nasal membrane over the eye to the top of the head, where it is concealed by the crest; feathers at the base of the lower mandible and a narrow streak below the eye, white; upper part of throat deep black; feathers of the wings greyish-black; primary coverts largely tipped with white; primary quills with a bright yellow, secondary with a white elongated spot at the end of the outer web, and tipped with oblong wax-red appendages; tail light grey at the base, gradually shaded into deep black, with a broad band of bright yellow. Female similar to the male, but somewhat smaller. Oblong waxen appendages to the secondary quills, varying from seven to three, sometimes wanting, especially in young birds; males with the shafts of the tail-feathers very slightly enlarged at the end, and bright red. Carefully compared with European specimens.

Male, 9³/₄, 16¹/₄.

From New York, eastward and northward, to the Fur Countries.

Bombycilla garrula, European Chatterer, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 237.

Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Syn. p. 438.

Bombycilla garrula, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iii. pl. 16.

European Waxen Chatterer, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 579.

Bohemian Chatterer, Bombycilla garrula, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 462.

246. 2. Bombycilla Carolinensis, Briss. Cedar Waxwing.—Cedar Bird.

Plate XLIII. Male and Female.

General colour light greyish-brown, passing behind into ash-grey, before into pale brownish-red, of which colour is the upper part of the head; a black band on the forehead passing backwards over the eye to the occiput, and margined above and below by a narrow white band; feathers in the angle of the lower mandible black; abdomen pale yellow; lower tail-coverts white; wings and tail dull leaden-blue, darker toward the end; primaries with a very small pale yellow spot at the tip, secondaries tipped with an oblong wax-red appendage, as are the tail-feathers, of which the extremity is bright yellow. Female similar to the male but somewhat smaller. The oblong appendages to the wings vary from nine to three. Young with the upper parts of a uniform dull greenish-brown, lower parts of the same colour, the throat pale buff, abdomen and lower tail-coverts yellowish-white.

Male, 6³/₄, 11.

From Texas northward to the Fur Countries. Westward to the Columbia River. Extremely abundant in Louisiana during winter.

Bombycilla carolinensis, Briss. v. ii. p. 337.

Cedar Bird, Ampelis americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 107.

Bombycilla carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 59.

Cedar Bird or Cherry Bird, Nutt. Man. v. i.

Cedar Bird, Bombycilla carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 227; v. v. p. 494.

FAMILY XXIII. SITTINÆ. NUTHATCHES.

Bill of moderate length or rather long, straight, rather slender, conico-subulate, somewhat compressed, with the tips acute, or cuneate. Head ovate; neck short; body full. Tarsi rather short, or of moderate length, slender, compressed, with seven or eight scutella; toes long, very slender; hind toe extremely long; anterior little spreading; claws long, little arched, slender, much compressed, acute. Plumage soft and full. Wings of moderate length, broad, rounded. Tail short, broad, of twelve feathers. Roof of upper mandible very narrow, slightly concave, with three ridges; tongue very slender, with the tip abrupt and bristly; œsophagus without dilatation; stomach roundish, moderately muscular; intestine short and wide; cœca very small. Trachea simple; with a single pair of large inferior laryngeal muscles. Allied to the Titmice on the one hand, and the Woodpeckers on the other.

GENUS I. SITTA, Linn. NUTHATCH.

Bill rather long, or of moderate length, straight, conico-subulate, a little compressed, rather obtuse; upper mandible with the dorsal outline very slightly arched, the ridge rather narrow, the sides sloping, the edges sharp without notches, the tip rather blunt; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and very slightly convex, the sides slightly convex, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, round operculate, partially concealed by the reversed bristly feathers. Head ovate; neck short; body short. Tarsi rather short, stout, compressed, with eight scutella; toes long, much compressed; first very long, second much shorter than fourth; anterior toes adherent at the base. Claws long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage very soft and blended. Small bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings rather long, first quill extremely small, third and fourth longest. Tail short, of twelve feathers broad, nearly even. Upper mandible slightly concave with three ridges; tongue slender, very thin, with the point abrupt and terminated by strong bristles; œsophagus without dilatation; stomach rather large, roundish, moderately muscular; intestine rather short and wide; cœca very small.

247. 1. Sitta Carolinensis, Linn. White-breasted Nuthatch.

Plate CLII. Male and Female.

Upper part of head and hind neck deep black; back light greyish-blue; quills black, edged with light greyish-blue; middle tail-feathers of the same colour, the rest black, with a broad band of white near the end; sides of the head and lower parts white; lower tail-coverts with the inner webs brownish-red. Young without black on the head.

Male, 5¹/₄, 11.

Common from Texas to Maine. Throughout the interior to the Columbia. Resident.

White-breasted American Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 10.

Sitta carolinensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 96.

White-breasted American Nuthatch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 581.

White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 299; v. v. p. 473.

248. 2. Sitta Canadensis, Linn. Red-bellied Nuthatch.

Plate CV. Male and Female.

Upper parts of head and hind neck deep black; back light greyish-blue; quills brownish-black, edged with light greyish-blue; middle tail-feathers of the same colour, the rest black, the outer two with a white band near the end; lower parts yellowish-red. Female with the head paler.

Male, 4¹/₂, 8.

From Maryland to Nova Scotia. Common. One seen in Labrador. Columbia River. Resident.

Red-bellied Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 40.

Sitta canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 96.

Red-bellied Nuthatch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 583.

Red-bellied Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 24; v. v. p. 474.

249. 3. Sitta pusilla, Lath. Brown-headed Nuthatch.

Plate CXXV. Male and Female.

Upper part of head and hind neck light reddish-brown, the latter with a white spot; back light greyish-blue; quills brownish-black, edged with light greyish-blue; middle tail-feathers of the same colours, the rest black, the outer three with a broad band of white near the end; lower parts yellowish-white, the sides greyish-blue.

Male, 4, 8.

From Texas to Maryland. In the interior to Mississippi. Extremely abundant. Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and the Carolinas. Resident.

Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 105.

Sitta pusilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 97.

Brown-headed Nuthatch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 584.

Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 151.

250. 4. Sitta pygmæa, Vigors. Californian Nuthatch.

Plate CCCCXV. Figs. 3, 4. Adult.

Upper part of head and hind neck dull greyish-brown; back dull leaden-grey; quills and tail-feathers dusky, margined with light grey, the lateral two feathers on each side with a white band toward the base; lower parts brownish-white.

Adult, 3¹⁰/₁₂, wing, 3⁵/₁₂.

California.

Californian Nuthatch, Sitta pygmæa, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 163.

FAMILY XXIV. TROCHILINÆ. HUMMINGBIRDS.

Bill long, very slender, straight or arched, somewhat depressed at the base, subcylindrical, flexible, acute. Head rather large; neck of moderate length; body moderately robust. Feet very short, rather stout; tarsus extremely short; toes of moderate size; the anterior coherent at the base, and nearly of equal length, the hind toe articulated high on the tarsus; claws rather long, arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage compact above, soft and blended beneath, often with metallic lustre; wings very long, extremely narrow, falciform, with the first quill longest, the other primaries rapidly diminishing; secondaries extremely short. Tail various, of ten feathers. Tongue very long, slender, with two flat, thin-edged terminal filaments, and extensile by means of the elongation of the hyoid bones, which curve over the head to the fore part of the forehead, and with their muscles slide in a groove, like those of the Woodpeckers. Œsophagus narrow, considerably enlarged about the middle; stomach extremely small, roundish, moderately muscular, its epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine very short and of moderate width; no cœca; cloaca globular. Trachea simple, but divided very high up on the neck, so that the bronchi are of excessive length, with a large pair of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. TROCHILUS, Linn. HUMMINGBIRD.

Bill long, subulate, depressed at the base, cylindrical, straight, or slightly arched, flexible; upper mandible with the ridge narrow at the base, convex in the rest of its extent, the sides sloping, the edges soft; lower mandible with the angle extremely acute and elongated, the sides erect, the tip acute. Nostrils linear, with a membranous flap above. Head small; neck short; body moderately stout. Feet very short; middle toe scarcely longer than the rest. Plumage rather blended and glossy above. Wings very long, extremely narrow; tail rather long, broad, nearly even. The other characters as above.

251. 1. Trochilus Mango, Linn. Mango Hummingbird.

Plate CLXXXIV. Male and Female.

Male with the head, hind neck, and back green, splendent with bronze and golden reflections; wings dusky, changing to purplish-brown; middle tail-feathers black, glossed with green and blue, the rest deep crimson-purple, tipped and partially margined with steel-blue; fore part of neck, and middle of breast velvet-black, margined on each side with emerald-green, the sides yellowish-green, with a tuft of white downy feathers; lower tail-coverts dark purple. Female with the upper parts similar, the tail-feathers more broadly and extensively margined with blue, and tipped with white; fore neck and centre of the breast white, with a central longitudinal band of black, and an emerald-green margin along the sides of the neck and body; lower tail-coverts green.

Male, 4³/₄, 8.

Florida Keys. Rare. Migratory.

Trochilus Mango, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 191.

Mango Humming Bird, Trochilus Mango, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 480.

252. 2. Trochilus Anna, Less. Anna Hummingbird.

Plate CCCCXXV. Male and Female.

Bill almost straight, acuminate; tail of moderate length, emarginate and rounded. Head, cheeks, and throat blood-red, changing to gold, and having a tinge of blue; upper parts light gold-green; quills and tail-feathers dusky brown; lower parts brownish-white. Female with merely a patch of red on the throat, upper part of head and cheeks greenish-grey; upper parts glossy green as in the male; wings dusky, middle tail-feathers green, the rest greenish-grey at the base, black toward the end, with the tips white; lower parts dull grey, sides tinged with brown.

Male, 3¹⁰/₁₂, wing, 2¹/₁₂.

Rocky Mountains towards California. Common. Migratory.

Oiseau-mouche Anna, Ornismya Anna, Less. Traite d'Ornith. p. 281.

Anna Humming Bird, Trochilus Anna, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 238.

253. 3. Trochilus Colubris, Linn. Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Plate XLVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Bill straight, acute; tail of moderate length, even. Upper parts light green with golden reflections; quills and tail purplish-brown, the two middle feathers like the back; throat, sides of the head, and fore neck carmine-purple, spotted with black, varying to crimson, orange, and deep black; sides light green, the rest of the lower parts greyish-white mixed with green. Female differs in wanting the brilliant patch on the throat, which is white, as are the lower parts generally, and having the three lateral tail-feathers tipped with the same colour. Young with the lower parts brownish-white, the tail tipped with white, the upper parts light green.

Male, 3¹/₄, 4¹/₂.

In summer, from Texas to Lat. 57°, and in all intermediate districts, east of the Rocky Mountains. Common. Migratory.

Humming Bird, Trochilus Colubris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 26.

Trochilus Colubris, Bonap. Syn. p. 98.

Trochilus Colubris, Northern Humming Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 323.

Ruby-throated Humming Bird, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 588.

Ruby-throated Humming Bird, Trochilus colubris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 248; v. v. p. 544.

GENUS II. SELASPHORUS, Swains. RUFFED-HUMMINGBIRD.

Bill long, straight, subulate, extremely slender, somewhat depressed at the base, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge narrow at the base, broad and convex toward the end, the sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip acuminate; lower mandible with the angle very long and extremely narrow, the dorsal line straightish, the edges erect, the tip acuminate. Nostrils basal, linear. Head of ordinary size, oblong; neck short; body short and ovate. Feet very small; tarsus very short, feathered more than half-way; toes small, the lateral equal, the third not much longer, the first a little shorter than the lateral; claws rather long, arched, compressed, very acute. Plumage soft and blended; elongated feathers on the sides of the neck in the males. Wings rather short, falcate, pointed, the second primary longest. Tail rather long, broad, graduated.

254. 1. Selasphorus rufus, Gmel. Rufous Ruffed-Hummingbird.—Nootka Hummingbird.

Plate CCCLXXIX. Male and Female.

Male with the upper parts bright cinnamon or reddish-orange, the head bronzed green, the wings dusky purple, their coverts glossed with green; each of the tail-feathers with a narrow, longitudinal, lanceolate, median streak toward the end; loral space, a narrow band over the eye, another beneath it, and auricular, orange-red; scale-like feathers of the throat and sides of the neck splendent, fire-red, changing to purplish-red, yellowish-red, greenish-yellow, or yellowish-green; behind them on the fore neck a broad band of reddish-white; the rest of the lower parts like the upper, the abdomen inclining to white. Female with the upper parts gold-green, the head inclining to brown; wings as in the male; tail-feathers orange-red at the base, brownish-black toward the end, the tip white; lower parts white, tinged with rufous, especially the sides; throat with roundish spots of metallic greenish-red.

Male, 3⁷/₁₂, wing, 1^7¼/₁₂.

From California along the north-west coast to Nootka Sound. Abundant. Migratory.

Trochilus rufus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 497.

Trochilus (Selasphorus) rufus, Cinnamon or Nootka Humming Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 324.

Ruffed-necked Humming Bird, Trochilus rufus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 555.

FAMILY XXV. ALCEDINÆ. KINGFISHERS.

Bill long, straight, stout, broader than high at the base, much compressed, tapering to a rather acute point, and gape-line commencing beneath the middle of the eyes. Head large, ovato-oblong; neck short; body stout. Tarsus extremely short; anteriorly scaly; anterior toes united for more than half their length, outer longer than inner, hind toe small. Claws stout, compressed, arched, very acute. Plumage rather compact. Wings rather long, pointed. Tail various, of twelve feathers. Tongue very short, fleshy, with the sides parallel, the tip tapering to a bluntish point. Roof of upper mandible moderately concave, with a median ridge and oblique lateral grooves. Œsophagus very wide, without crop; stomach very large, round, with its muscular coat very thin; the epithelium dense, very thin, with tortuous rugæ; intestine very long, extremely slender; no cœca; cloaca very large, globular. Trachea with three pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

GENUS I. ALCEDO, Linn. KINGFISHER.

Bill long, straight, rather stout, broader than high at the base, but suddenly much compressed, and tapering to an acute point; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, the ridge distinct, but somewhat flattened, the edges nearly straight, without notch, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and nearly straight; gape-line commencing beneath the middle of the eye; nostrils basal, near the ridge, linear, obliquely ascending, half closed by a bare membrane. Head large, oblong; neck short; body robust. Feet very short; tarsus extremely short, roundish, anteriorly faintly scaly; anterior toes cohered for a great part of the length, outer longer than inner, first small. Claws rather short, stout, arched, acute. Plumage rather compact, more blended above. Wings long, pointed, with the second and third quills longest. Tail short, even, of twelve rounded feathers.

255. 1. Alcedo Alcyon, Linn. Belted Kingfisher.

Plate LXXVII. Male and Female.

Crested, with the upper parts, cheeks, and a broad belt across the fore part of the breast, light blue, the shaft of each feather darker; lower parts, with a small spot before the eye, and another on the lower eyelid, white; many of the feathers on the sides light blue, banded with white; quills black; the primaries barred with white at the base, and having the inner web of that colour for half its length; the secondaries broadly edged with light blue, dotted and tipped with white, and having the inner web barred with the same; tail-feathers dusky, edged with blue, barred and tipped with white. Female similar to the male, with the tints duller, and the sides with a band across the middle of the breast light red.

Male, 12¹/₂, 20.

Breeds from Texas all over the United States, to the Fur Countries, Missouri, Rocky Mountains, and Columbia River. Common. Resident.

Belted Kingfisher, Alcedo Alcyon, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 59.

Alcedo Alcyon, Bonap. Syn. p. 48.

Alcedo Alcyon, Belted Kingfisher, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 339.

Belted Kingfisher, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 594.

Belted Kingfisher, Alcedo Alcyon, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 394; v. v. p. 548.

FAMILY XXVI. PICINÆ. WOODPECKERS.

Bill long or of moderate length, straight, stout, angulate, tapering, compressed toward the tip, which is generally wedge-shaped and abrupt; mandibles nearly equal, outline of the upper slightly convex, the ridge narrow, sides sloping, with a lateral ridge, edges straight; lower with the angle short and narrow, the dorsal line nearly straight, the ridge narrow, the sides with a faint ridge. Nostrils basal, elliptical or oblong, concealed by reversed bristly feathers. Head of moderate size, oblong; neck of moderate length; body stout. Legs short; tarsus short, moderately stout, anteriorly scutellate, scaly behind; toes usually four, first short, rudimentary, or sometimes wanting, fourth very long and reversed, equalling or exceeding the third. Claws large, strong, much curved, much compressed, very acute. Plumage soft, blended, rather compact on the back; wings of moderate length or long; with the first quill very small, the third, fourth, and fifth longest. Tail of moderate length, much rounded or cuneate, of twelve feathers, of which the lateral are extremely small, and placed above the next, the rest, but especially the three middle pairs, with the shafts exceedingly large and strong, the webs narrowed toward the end, with their filaments deflected and stiff, the tip pointed or emarginate from being worn. Tongue slender, with the tip horny and furnished with reversed prickles or bristles, capable of being protruded to a great length by the elongation of the hyoid bones, which curve over the head to between the right eye and nostril, or even extend round a great part of that eye. Œsophagus of uniform width; proventriculus extremely large; stomach of moderate size, or rather small, broadly elliptical or roundish, moderately muscular; epithelium thin, dense, and longitudinally rugous; intestine of moderate length, rather wide; no cœca; cloaca very large, globular, or elliptical. Trachea simple, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest a cavity dug in a tree; eggs from four to six, elliptical, white.

The groups present characters which are so undecided, and exhibit such gradual approximations, that I think it better here to consider all our Woodpeckers as of one genus.

GENUS I. PICUS, Linn. WOODPECKER.

Character as above.

* Bill straight, with the angles prominent.

256. 1. Picus imperialis, Gould. Imperial Woodpecker.

Not figured.

Glossy greenish-black; the elongated occipital crest scarlet; a triangular spot on the fore part of the back; the secondary quills, and the inner webs of most of the primaries, white; bill yellowish-white. Female similar, but without red on the head. Gould.

Male, 24, wing 12.

Rocky Mountains and North California.

Picus imperialis, Gould. Proceed. of Com. Sc. and Corresp. of Zool. Soc. of Lond. part ii. p. 140.

Imperial Woodpecker, Picus Imperialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 313.

257. 2. Picus principalis, Linn. Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

Plate LXVI. Male and Female.

Toes very long, fourth longer than third. An occipital crest of elongated linear feathers; general colour glossy black, with blue reflections on the upper, green on the lower parts; crest rich carmine; bristly feathers covering the nostrils, and a short band at the base of the upper mandible, a band on each side of the neck, from the cheek to the end of the scapulars, secondary quills, their bases excepted, and terminal portion of four inner secondaries, with the axillars and lower wing-coverts, white; bill yellowish-white. Female similar, but with the crest black, and the lateral tail-feathers, with two patches of white at the tip.

Male, 21, 30. Female, 19¹/₂, wing 10.

Common in Texas, Louisiana, and along the Mississippi, to the Ohio. Rare on the latter, to Henderson. From Florida to North Carolina. Resident.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Picus principalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 20.

Picus principalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 44.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Picus principalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 564.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Picus principalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 341; v. v. p. 525.

258. 3. Picus pileatus, Linn. Pileated Woodpecker.—Log-cock.

Plate XIII. Male and Female.

Fourth toe longer, considerably shorter than third; an occipital crest of elongated linear feathers; general colour black glossed with blue, upper part of head, and a band from the lower mandible, deep carmine; loral space and a broad band from the eye to the occiput, greyish-black; a narrow band from the eye margining the red of the crest, a band from the base of the upper mandible, down to the side of the neck, the throat, axillars, lower wing-coverts, and bases of the quills, white. Female similar, with the fore part of the head dusky, and the red on the cheek substituted by blackish-brown.

Male, 18, 28.

From Texas to the Columbia River, and along the Atlantic coast, as well as in the interior, to the Fur Countries. More abundant in the south. Resident everywhere.

Pileated Woodpecker, Picus pileatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 27.

Picus pileatus, Bonap. Syn. p. 44.

Picus (Dryotomus) pileatus, Pileated Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 304.

Pileated Woodpecker or Log-cock, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 567.

Pileated Woodpecker, Picus pileatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 74; v. v. p. 533.

259. 4. Picus lineatus, Linn. Lineated Woodpecker.

Not figured.

Third and fourth toes about equal, hind toe very small; an occipital crest of elongated near feathers; upper part of the head carmine, inclining to scarlet; a narrow dusky line from the nostril to the eye; a patch, including the eyelids and ear-coverts, leaden-grey; a narrow band down the hind part of the neck, gradually enlarging, the back, wings, and tail, deep black; a band from the nostrils descending obliquely over the side of the head, passing backwards and behind the ear, then much enlarged, and running down the side of the neck to the shoulders, a large oblique patch at the commencement of the wing, including the outer scapulars, the small feathers on the edge of the wing under the alula, the lower wing-coverts, and the inner webs of the quills for about half the length, pure white; an elongated crimson patch at the base of the lower jaw; chin yellowish-white, longitudinally streaked with dusky; the rest of the fore neck and part of the breast black; the lower parts and sides brownish-white, transversely barred with black.

Male, 15, wing, 7²/₁₂.

Columbia River.

Picus lineatus, Linn. Syst. Nat v. i. p. 174.

Lineated Woodpecker, Picus lineatus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 315.

260. 5. Picus Canadensis, Gmel. Canadian Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVII. Fig. 7. Male.

Fourth toe considerably longer than third; fourth quill longest, fifth longer than second; bristly feathers over the nostrils dull yellow; upper part of head and hind neck glossy black; over the eye a band of white, continuous with a transverse band of scarlet on the occiput, usually interrupted in the middle; a black band from near the bill to the eye, continued behind it over the auriculars, and joining the back of the hind neck; beneath this a white band from the angle of the mouth, curving backwards below the middle of the neck, so as to meet the other behind; then a narrow band of black from the base of the lower mandible and continuous with the black of the shoulders; upper part of the body, wings, and tail, black, feathers along the middle of the back tipped with white; wing-coverts, the anterior excepted, and quills spotted with the same, there being on the four longest primaries seven spots on the outer, and five on the inner webs, on most of the secondaries five on each web, but on the outer quill only one patch on each web, and on the second three spots on the outer, and four on the inner web; four middle tail-feathers glossy black, the rest black towards the base, that colour gradually diminishing, so that the outermost is almost entirely white; lower parts white.

Extremely similar to Picus villosus, but always much larger.

Male, 10¹/₂, 17³/₄.

From the northern parts of New York to the Fur Countries. Common. Migratory in winter to New York.

Picus canadensis, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 437.

Picus (Dendrocopus) villosus, Hairy Woodpecker, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 305.

Canadian Woodpecker, Picus canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 188.

261. 6. Picus Phillipsii, Aud. Phillips's Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVII. Figs. 5, 6. Male.

Fourth toe a little longer than third; fourth quill longest; bristly feathers over the nostrils yellowish-white; fore part of the head, to a little beyond the top, orange-yellow; occiput and hind neck glossy black; over the eye a band of white passing to behind the auriculars; a black band from above the angle of the mouth to the eye, and behind it, including the auriculars; below this a white band from the angle of the mouth joining that over the eye; then a narrower black band from the lower mandible; upper parts black, tinged with brown behind; feathers along the middle of the back tipped with white; some of the wing-coverts also tipped with white, and the quills spotted with the same, there being on the four largest primaries seven spots on the outer, and five on the inner web; the four middle tail-feathers glossy black, the rest black at the base, that colour gradually diminishing, so that the outermost is entirely white; lower parts white.

Male, 10¹/₂; wing, 5.

Massachusetts. Very rare.

Phillips's Woodpecker, Picus Phillipsii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 186.

262. 7. Picus Martinæ, Aud. Maria's Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVII. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Fourth toe slightly longer than third; fourth quill longest, third longer than fifth; tufts of bristly feathers over the nostrils dull yellow; upper part of head scarlet; forehead and occiput black; a band of white over the eye; a black band from the bill to the eye, continued behind it over the auriculars, and joining the black of the hind neck; beneath this a band of white from the angle of the mouth, curving backwards below the middle of the neck, so as almost to meet its fellow behind; then a band of black from the base of the lower mandible, and continuous with the black of the shoulders; upper parts black; feathers along the middle of the back tipped with white; wing-coverts and quills spotted with the same, there being on the four longest primaries seven spots on the outer, and four on the inner web, on most of the secondaries five on each web, but on the outer quill only one patch on each web, and on the second four spots on the outer, and three on the inner web; four middle tail-feathers glossy black, the next black on the inner web, and on the greater part of the outer toward the base, the rest black only at the base, the two outer being almost entirely white; lower parts white, tinged with grey, and a little red, the sides faintly mottled with dusky grey.

Male, 9²/₁₂; wing, 4^10½/₁₂.

A pair found at Toronto, Upper Canada.

Maria's Woodpecker, Picus Martinæ, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 181.

263. 8. Picus Harrisii, Aud. Harris's Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVII. Fig. 8. Male. Fig. 9. Female.

Fourth toe considerably longer than third; fourth quill longest, fifth longer than second; bristly feathers over the nostrils dull yellow, with the tips black; upper part of the head and hind neck glossy black; over the eye a band of white, continuous with a transverse scarlet band on the occiput; a black band in the loral space continued behind the eye over the auriculars, and joining the black of the hind neck; beneath is a band of white, from the angle of the mouth, curving backward below the middle of the neck, but without meeting the other; then a band of black from the base of the lower mandible, and continuous with the black of the hind neck and shoulders; upper parts black, the quills tinged with brown; feather along the middle of the back largely tipped with white; quills, excepting the inner three, marked with small roundish spots, of which there are five on the outer and four on the inner web of the four longest quills, while on the outer there is only an elongated spot on the inner web, and on the next one spot on the outer and three on the inner; four middle tail-feathers black, the next black, with a small part of the inner web, and a large portion of the outer toward the end, white; the rest white, with the base black; the outermost small feathers almost entirely white; lower parts brownish-white. Female wants the red occipital band. This species is distinguishable from all the other spotted species, by having no white spots on the wing-coverts.

Male, 9; wing, 5²/₁₂.

Columbia River. Rare.

Harris's Woodpecker, Picus Harrisii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 191.

264. 9. Picus villosus, Linn. Hairy Woodpecker.

Plate CCCCXVI. Fig. 1. Male. Fig. 2. Female.

Bill as long as the head; fourth toe considerably longer than third; fourth and fifth quills longest and equal; bristly feathers over the nostrils dull yellow, tipped with black; upper part of head and hind neck glossy black; over the eye a band of white, continuous with a transverse band of scarlet on the occiput, usually divided in the middle; a black band from the bill to the eye, continued behind it over the auriculars, and joining the black of the hind neck; beneath this, a band of white from the angle of the mouth, curving backwards below the middle of the neck, so as to meet its fellow behind; then a black band from the base of the lower mandible; upper parts black, tinged with brown behind; feathers along the middle of the back, tipped with white; wing-coverts, the anterior excepted, and quills spotted with white, there being on the four longest primaries seven on the outer and five on the inner web, on most of the secondaries five on each web, but on the outer quill only one patch on each web, and on the second, two spots on the outer and three on the inner; four middle tail-feathers glossy black, the rest black only towards the base; lower parts white, tinged with dull green on the fore neck and breast, the sides with blackish-grey. Female without red on the head.

Male, 8³/₄, 14¹/₂. Female, 8¹/₂, 15.

Breeds from Texas to New Hampshire, Kentucky, and Valley of the Mississippi. Common. Resident.

Hairy Woodpecker, Picus villosus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 150.

Picus villosus, Bonap. Syn. p. 46.

Hairy Woodpecker, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 575.

Hairy Woodpecker, Picus villosus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 164.

265. 10. Picus pubescens, Linn. Downy Woodpecker.

Plate CXII. Male and Female.

Bill much shorter than the head, slender; fourth toe considerably longer than third; fourth quill longest; upper bristles over the nostrils yellowish, tipped with black; upper part of the head glossy black; a band of white over the eye ending in a scarlet occipital band; then a band of black from the eye to the hind neck, succeeded by one of white from the angle of the mouth, curving so as nearly to meet its fellow on the hind neck, and a black band from the lower mandible down the side of the neck. Upper parts black; feathers along the middle of the back tipped with white; coverts and quills spotted with white, there being six spots on the outer, and five on the inner webs of the four longest primaries, the outermost quill with one patch of white on the inner web, and the next with four spots on each web; outer small tail-feathers white, with a single black spot, next two white, with two terminal black bands, the rest variegated, except the two middle, which are black. Female without red.

Male, 6³/₄, 12.

Breeds from Texas to Labrador, and northward to Lat. 58°. Common throughout the interior to the eastern bases of the Rocky Mountains. In every district, a constant resident.