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part of their works, but the reader may perceive our opinion on this point by referring to our synonyms, which, however, are given with much doubt, since we do not hesitate to say, that those authors have not published any satisfactory description of this species.

We shall not endeavour to settle the question relative to the species inhabiting South America, or even Mexico and the West Indies; but we may assert, that this is the only blackbird found in the United States, besides those of Wilson, which, as is the case with all that his pencil or pen has touched, are established incontestably; he may occasionally have been mistaken as to his genera, or incorrect in a specific name, but by the plate, description, and history, he has always determined his bird so obviously, as to defy criticism, and prevent future mistake.

Mr Ord has published an excellent paper in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, proving the existence, in the United States, of two allied species of crow blackbird, in which he gives new descriptions, indicates stable characters, and adds an account of their respective habits; but in attempting to correct Wilson, he has unfortunately misapplied the names. In this instance, he should not have charged Wilson with error, who is certainly correct in regard to the species he published; and even had this been doubtful, he who so well described and figured the common crow blackbird, ought to have been followed by ornithologists. Therefore, notwithstanding Mr Ord's decision, we consider the quiscala of Wilson unquestionably the true quiscala of authors. This is so obvious, that it is unnecessary to adduce any evidence in support of our opinion, which, indeed, is sufficiently afforded by Mr Ord's paper itself.

It is impossible to decide with certainty, what bird authors intended to designate by their Gracula barita; but after a careful review of the short and unessential indications, respective synonyms, and habitat, given by different writers, we feel assured that they have not referred to one and the same species. Thus, the barita

*

of Linné is a species not found in the United States, but common in the West Indies, called Icterus niger by Brisson, and afterwards Oriolus niger by Gmelin and Latham; the barita of Latham, his boat-tailed grakle, is evidently the same with the quiscala; Gmelin's barita is taken partly from that of Linné, and partly from the boat-tailed grakle of Latham, being compounded from both species; we shall not be at the trouble of deciphering the errors of subsequent compilers.

Ornithologists are all at variance as to the classification of these species. Linné and Latham improperly referred them to Gracula; Daudin, with no better reason, placed them under Sturnus; Temminck considers them as Icteri, Cuvier as Cassica, and Vieillot has formed a new genus for their reception. I have no hesitation in agreeing with the latter author, and adopt his name of Quiscalus; but I add to the genus, as constituted by him, the Gracula ferruginea, which he regarded as a Pendulinus, and which other authors have arranged in several different genera, making of it a profusion of nominal species. Wilson judiciously included that species in the same genus with those above mentioned, although other authors had placed it in Turdus, Oriolus, &c.

The genus Quiscalus is peculiar to America, and is composed of four well ascertained species, three of which are found in the United States; these are, Quiscalus major,† versicolor, and ferrugineus; the fourth, Quiscalus baritus, inhabits the West Indies, and probably South America.

The species of this genus are gregarious, and omnivorous; their food being composed of insects, corn,

*It was probably by Latham, that Mr Ord was led to misapply the names of the two species; for, perceiving that the barita of that author was the quiscala, he inferred, that the quiscala was

the barita.

We call the present species Quiscalus major, agreeably to Vieillot, who certainly intended this bird, although his description is a mere indication.

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and small grains, thus assisting and plundering the agriculturist at the same time. When the first European settlements were formed in North America, the havoc made by these birds and the troopials in the grain fields, was so great, that a premium was given for their heads. Their destruction was easily effected, as they are not shy, and are more easily approached as their numbers decrease; but the evil which resulted from exterminating so many of these birds, was as unexpected as irremediable. The corn and pastures were so devoured by worms and insects, that the inhabitants were obliged to spare the birds, in order to avert a scourge which had been previously unknown. As population increases, and a greater quantity of grain is cultivated, the ravages of these birds become less perceptible, and the injury they cause comparatively trifling.

The great crow blackbird is more than sixteen inches long, and twenty-two in extent. The bill, from the angle of the mouth, is one inch and three quarters, and its colour, like that of the feet, is black; the roof of the mouth is furnished with a slight osseous carina; the irides are pale yellow. The general appearance of the bird is black; the whole head and neck having bluish purple reflections; the interscapular region, breast, belly, sides, and smaller wing-coverts, are glossy steel blue; the back, rump, and middling wing-coverts, are glossed with copper green; the vent, inferior tailcoverts, and thighs, are plain black. The undescribed parts of the wings are deep black, slightly glossed with green, as well as the tail, which is cuneiform, capable of assuming a boat-shaped appearance, and measures nearly eight inches in length from its insertion, surpassing the tip of the wings by five inches.

The female is considerably shorter, measuring only twelve and a half inches in length, and seventeen inches and a half in extent. The bill, from the angle of the mouth, is one inch and a half long, and, with the feet, is black; the irides are of a still paler yellow than those of the male. The head and neck above are light brown, gradually passing into dusky towards the back, which,

with the scapulars and lesser wing-coverts, has slight greenish reflections; a whitish line passes from the nostrils over the eye, to the origin of the neck. The chin, throat, and breast, are dull whitish; the anterior part of the breast is slightly tinged with brownish ; the flanks are brownish; the belly brownish white; and the vent and inferior tail-coverts are blackish brown, each feather being margined with pale. The remaining parts are of a dull brownish black, slightly glossed with greenish; the secondaries, tail-coverts, and tail feathers, having a slight banded appearance, which is equally observable in the male.

The young at first resemble the female, but have the irides brown, and the males gradually acquire the brilliant plumage of the adult.

The great and common crow blackbirds are both alike distinguished by the very remarkable boat-like form of the tail, but the great difference of size, appearance of the females, length of the tail, prominence of the osseus carina, and brilliancy of colouring, most obviously prove them to be altogether specifically distinct.

The great crow blackbird inhabits the southern part of the Union, where it is called jackdaw; Georgia and Florida appear to be its favourite residence. The disposition of this species is extremely social, and they frequently mingle with the common crow blackbird; vast flocks are seen among the sea islands and neighbouring marshes on the main land, where they feed at low water, on the oyster beds and sand flats.

The chuck of our species is shriller than that of the common crow blackbird, and it has other notes which resemble the noise made by a watchman's rattle; their song is only heard in the spring, and though the concert they make is somewhat melancholy, it is not altogether disagreeable. Their nests are built in company, on reeds and bushes, in the neighbourhood of marshes and ponds; they lay about five eggs, which are whitish, spotted with dark brown.

Mr Ord mentions in his paper, that the first specimens

he saw of this bird, were obtained on the 22d of January at Ossabaw Island, when but a few males were seen scattered over the cotton plantations. Advancing towards the south, they became more numerous; and in the early part of February, the males, unaccompanied by females, were common near the mouth of the river St Juan in Florida. A few days after, the females appeared, and associated by themselves on the borders of fresh water ponds; they were very gentle, and allowed themselves to be approached within a few feet, without becoming alarmed. Flocks composed of both sexes were seen about the middle of March.

About the latter end of November, they leave even the warm region of Florida, to seek winter quarters farther south, probably in the West Indies. Previous to their departure, they assemble in very large flocks, and detachments are seen every morning moving southward, flying at a great height. The males appear to migrate later than the females, as not more than one female (easily distinguishable, even in the higher regions of the air, by its much smaller size) is observed for a hundred males, in the last flocks.

The great crow blackbird is also very numerous in the West Indies, Mexico, and Louisiana; but it does not frequent the Northern, or even the Middle States, like the common crow blackbird. Our opinion, that the Corvus Mexicanus of authors is the male of this species, and their Corvus zanoe the female, is corroborated by the male and female great crow blackbird being seen in separate flocks.

10. QUISCALUS versicolor, vieill.

FEMALE COMMON CROW-BLACKBIRD, Bonaparte.

BONAPARTE, PLATE V. FIG. I.

THE specific name of this bird (quiscala) has been changed, in consequence of its having been applied to the genus: we have substituted the name given by Vieillot, which is admirably appropriate. The English

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