Species of _Molothrus_ resemble some of the _Fringillidæ_ more than any other of the _Icteridæ_. The bill is, however, more straight, the tip without notch; the culmen running back farther on the forehead, the nostrils being situated fully one third or more of the total length from its posterior extremity. This is seldom the case in the American families. The entire absence of notch in the bill and of bristles along the rictus are strong features. The nostrils are perfectly free from any overhanging feathers or bristles. The pointed wings, with the first quill longest, or nearly equal to second, and the tail with its broad rounded feathers, shorter than the wings, are additional features to be specially noted. Molothrus pecoris, SWAINSON. COW BLACKBIRD; COWBIRD. _Fringilla pecoris_, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 910 (female).—LATH. Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 443.—LICHT. Verzeich. 1823, Nos. 230, 231. _Emberiza pecoris_, WILS. Am. Orn. II, 1810, 145, pl. xviii, f. 1, 2, 3. _Icterus pecoris_, BONAP. Obs. Wilson, 1824, No. 88.—AUD. Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 493; V, 1839, 233, 490, pls. xcix and ccccxxiv. _Icterus (Emberizoides) pecoris_, BON. Syn. 1828, 53.—IB. Specchio comp. No. 41.—NUTT. Man. I, 1832, 178, (2d ed.,) 190. _Passerina pecoris_, VIEILL. Nouv. Dict. XXV, 1819, 22. _Psarocolius pecoris_, WAGLER, Syst. Av. 1827, No. 20. _Molothrus pecoris_, SWAINSON, F. Bor.-Am. II, 1831, 277.—RICH. List, 1837.—BON. List, 1838.—IB. Consp. 1850, 436.—AUD. Syn. 1839, 139.—IB. Birds Am. IV, 1842, 16, pl. ccxii.—CABANIS, Mus. Hein. 1851, 193.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 524.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 257.—SAMUELS, 339.—ALLEN, B. Fla. 284. _? Oriolus fuscus_, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 393. _? Sturnus obscurus_, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 804 (evidently a _Molothrus_, and probably, but not certainly, the present species). _Molothrus obscurus_, CASSIN, Pr. Ph. Ac. 1866, 18 (Mira Flores, L. Cal.).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 260. “_Icterus emberizoides_, DAUDIN.” _? Sturnus junceti_, LATH. Ind. I, 1790, 326 (same as _Sturnus obscurus_, GM.). _? Fringilla ambigua_, NUTTALL, Man. I, 1832, 484 (young). _Sturnus nove-hispaniæ_, BRISS. II, 448. SP. CHAR. Second quill longest; first scarcely shorter. Tail nearly even, or very slightly rounded. Male with the head, neck, and anterior half of the breast light chocolate-brown, rather lighter above; rest of body lustrous black, with a violet-purple gloss next to the brown, of steel blue on the back, and of green elsewhere. Female light olivaceous-brown all over, lighter on the head and beneath. Bill and feet black. Length, 8 inches; wing, 4.42; tail, 3.40.