The eggs of the var. _obscurus_ exhibit a very marked variation in size from those of the var. _pecoris_, and have a different appearance, though their colors are nearly identical. Their ground-color is white, and their markings a claret-brown. These markings are fewer, smaller, and less generally distributed, and the ground-color is much more apparent. They measure .60 by .55 of an inch, and their capacity as compared with the eggs of the _pecoris_ is as 33 to 70,—a variation that is constant, and apparently too large to be accounted for on climatic differences. GENUS AGELAIUS, VIEILL. _Agelaius_, VIEILLOT, “Analyse, 1816.” (Type, _Oriolus phœniceus_, L.) [Line drawing: _Agelaius phœniceus._ 1386] GEN. CHAR. First quill shorter than second; claws short; the outer lateral scarcely reaching the base of the middle. Culmen depressed at base, parting the frontal feathers; length equal to that of the head, shorter than tarsus. Both mandibles of equal thickness and acute at tip, the edges much curved, the culmen, gonys, and commissure nearly straight or slightly sinuated; the length of bill about twice its height. Tail moderate, rounded, or very slightly graduated. Wings pointed, reaching to end of lower tail-coverts. Colors black with red shoulders in North American species. One West Indian with orange-buff. Females streaked except in two West Indian species. [Illustration: _Agelaius phœniceus._] The nostrils are small, oblong, overhung by a membranous scale. The bill is higher than broad at the base. There is no division between the anterior tarsal scutellæ and the single plate on the outside of the tarsus. The females of two West Indian species are uniform black. Of these the male of one, _A. assimilis_ of Cuba, is undistinguishable from that of _A. phœniceus_; and in fact we may without impropriety consider the former as a melanite race of the latter, the change appreciable only in the female. The _A. humeralis_, also of Cuba, is smaller, and black, with the lesser coverts brownish orange-buff. Species and Varieties. COMMON CHARACTERS. _Males_ glossy black without distinct bluish lustre, lesser wing-coverts bright red. _Females_ without any red, and either wholly black or variegated with light streaks, most conspicuous below. [Illustration: PLATE XXXIII. 1. Agelaius phœniceus. ♂ Pa., 1386. 2. ” ” ♀ Pa., 2174. 3. ” ” ♂ shoulder. 4. ” gubernator. ♂ shoulder. 5. ” tricolor. ♂ shoulder. 6. ” tricolor. ♂ Cal., 2836. 7. ” ” ♀ Cal., 5532. 8. ” gubernator. ♀ Cal., 5530. 9. Xanthocephalus icterocephalus. ♀ Kansas, 6557.] A. phœniceus. Tail rounded. Red of shoulders a bright scarlet tint. Black of plumage without bluish lustre. _Females_ with wing-coverts edged with brownish, or without any light edgings at all. _a._ Female continuous deep black, unvariegated. _Middle wing-coverts wholly buff in male._