GEN. CHAR. Bill shorter than the head, rather slender, the edges inflexed as in _Quiscalus_, which it otherwise greatly resembles; the commissure sinuated. Culmen rounded, but not flattened. Tarsi longer than the middle toe. Tail even, or slightly rounded. The above characteristics will readily distinguish the genus from its allies. The form is much like that of _Agelaius_. The bill, however, is more attenuated, the culmen curved and slightly sinuated. The bend at the base of the commissure is shorter. The culmen is angular at the base posterior to the nostrils, instead of being much flattened, and does not extend so far behind. The two North American species may be distinguished as follows:— Synopsis of Species. S. ferrugineus. Bill slender; height at base not .4 the total length. Color of male black, with faint purple reflection over whole body; wings, tail, and abdomen glossed slightly with green. Autumnal specimens with feathers broadly edged with castaneous rusty. _Female_ brownish dusky slate, without gloss; no trace of light superciliary stripe. S. cyanocephalus. Bill stout; height at base nearly .5 the total length. Color black, with green reflections over whole body. Head only glossed with purple. Autumnal specimens, feathers edged very indistinctly with umber-brown. _Female_ dusky-brown, with a soft gloss; a decided light superciliary stripe. Cuba possesses a species referred to this genus (_S. atroviolaceus_), though it is not strictly congeneric with the two North American ones. It differs in lacking any distinct membrane above the nostril, and in having the bill not compressed laterally, as well as in being much stouter. The plumage has a soft silky lustre; the general color black, with rich purple or violet lustre. The female similarly colored to the male. Scolecophagus ferrugineus, SWAINSON. RUSTY BLACKBIRD.