existing between the sexes of the red-winged troopial. The bill and feet are proportionally smaller than those of the male, the feet being blackish; the irides are dark brown. The general colour is uniform dark brown, a shade lighter on the margin of each feather. The frontlet is grayish ferruginous, as well as a line over the eye, confluent on the auricles, with a broad line of the same colour passing beneath the eye, including a blackish space varied with grayish. An abbreviated blackish line proceeds from each side of the lower mandible; the chin and throat are whitish; on the breast is a large rounded patch, of a pretty vivid yellow, occupying nearly all its surface, and extending a little on the neck. On the lower part of the breast, and beginning of the belly, the feathers are skirted with white. The form of the wings and tail is the same as in the male; the wings are immaculate. The young of this species are very similar to the female; the young male gradually changing to the rich adult covering. The yellow-headed troopials assemble in dense flocks, which, in all their varied movements and evolutions, present appearances similar to those of the red-winged, which have been so well described by Wilson. They are much on the ground, like the cow troopial, (cow bunting of Wilson ;) on dissection, their stomachs have been found filled with fragments of small insects, which seem to constitute their chief food, though doubtless they also feed on vegetable substances. Their notes resemble those of the red-winged troopial, but are more musical. The range of the yellow-headed troopial is very extensive, as it is found from Cayenne to the river Missouri; although it passes far north in the western region, yet it does not visit the settled parts of the United States. We adopt the genus Icterus, nearly as it was established by Brisson, and accepted by Daudin and Temminck. Authors have variously estimated this genus, both in regard to its denomination and limits. One of Wilson's most important nomenclatural errors consisted in placing one of the species under the genus Sturnus, with which it has but little similarity, if we except some of its habits, and particularly its gregarious disposition. Linné considered these birds as Orioli, in which he was followed by Gmelin and Latham, notwithstanding the remarkable difference existing between them and the Oriolus galbula of Europe, the type of that genus. Illiger, and some other naturalists, considering that bird a Coracias, appropriated the name of Oriolus to our Icterus, and separated from it the largest species, which he called Cassici. Linné had declared all generic names previously given to arts, diseases, &c. to be inadmissible in natural history; Illiger, on that principle, altogether rejected the name Icterus, as being preoccupied by a disease. This may account for the introduction of new names for genera, one of which at least ought to have retained its first appellation. Vieillot, however, would have caused less confusion, if he had adopted the name of Icterus, (which, with Saxicola, and all other names of that class, we do not think objectionable,) instead of Agelaius, Pendulinus, or Yphantes, three of his four genera corresponding to our Icterus. But, if the latter name was considered as utterly inadmissible, we see no reason why he did not accept that of Xanthornus, applied to this genus by Pallas. All the species of troopial are peculiar to America. We divide them into four subgenera, the present bird belonging to the second, to which we apply the name of Xanthornus. The species of this subgenus are peculiarly social in their dispositions, and their associations are not liable to interruption from the influence of love itself. Not only do many individuals of the same family combine and labour in concert, but they also unite with very different species. Their aspect is animated, and their movements are quick, bold, and vigorous; they fly rapidly, at a good height, and are much attached to the places of their birth. Their song is a kind of whistling; they walk with the body nearly erect, with a slightly hurried step, and are seen sitting on the ground, or perched on the branches of trees. They seek no concealment, and never enter the woods, though they are very careful to construct their nests in a safe situation. The troopials eat no fruits, but derive their subsistence from insects, worms, grains, and small seeds. They leave the temperate climates at the approach of winter, and are amongst the first birds of passage that return with the spring. GENUS V.-QUISCALUS MAJOR, Vieillot. 9. QUISCALUS MAJOR, VIEIllot. GREAT CROW BLACKBIRD, BONAPARTE. BONAPARTE, PLATE IV. FIG. I. MALE; FIG. II. FEMALE. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. No part of natural history has been more confused than that relating to North and South American birds of black plumage; which is by no means surprising when we recollect that they are chiefly destitute o coloured markings, and that the greater number of admitted species, are founded on the short and inexac descriptions of travellers, who have neglected to observ their forms, habits, and characters. But little aid ha been derived from the wretched plates hitherto given for they seem better suited to increase the confusion than to exemplify the descriptions to which they ar annexed, and every succeeding compiler has aggravated rather than diminished this complication of error. I is, therefore, solely by a studious attention to nature that we can extricate these species from the uncertaint involving them, and place them in a distinct and cog nizable situation. Wilson having mentioned this species in his catalogu of land birds, evidently intended to describe and figur it; but this he deferred, probably, in expectation obtaining better opportunities of examination, whic are not so readily presented, as the bird does not inhab this section of the United States. It would be difficult to ascertain whether or n Linné and Latham have mentioned this bird in an 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. |