length ; third quill longest, second scarcely shorter, first and fourth about
equal ; the second, thii-d, fourth, and fifth, cut out on the outer web to-
wards the end ; secondaries abruptly rounded with an acumen. Tail very
long, graduated, broadly rounded at the end, of twelve rounded feathers,
of which the two middle have their webs slightly bent upwards, the shafts
and webs of all transversely undulated.
Bill, feet, and claws, black. Iris pale yellow. The general appear- ance of the plumage is black ; but the head and upper parts of the neck all round are splendent deep bluish-purple, the back and breast anteriorly steel-blue, posteriorly bluish-green ; the rump and tail-coverts darker. The abdomen, and lower tail-coverts and tibial feathers, plain black. Quills and tail black, slightly glossed with green on the outer webs.
Length ISy, extent of wings S-3| ; bill along the ridge li%, along the edge 1| ; tarsus l^l ; tail-feathers 8^ ; weight 7^ ounces.
Adult Female. Plate CLXXXVII. Fig. 2.
The female is smaller. Her plumage is soft and blended, but is not glossed beneath, and on the upper parts is so only in a comparatively slight degree. The tail is graduated as in the male, but much shorter. The general colour of the upper parts is dusky, with slight tints of green and blue ; the head and neck dull brown, with a paler band over the eye ; the lower parts light reddish- brown, the tibial feathers and lower tail-co- verts dusky.
Length 12f inches, extent of wings 18; bill along the ridge Ij^, along the edge 1 1 ; tarsus l/j ; tail-feathers 4| ; weight 3f ounces. Individuals of both sexes, but especially males, differ greatly in size, from the time they obtain their full plumage until they are several years old, the difference sometimes amounting to several inches in the length of the birds, and affording an excellent opportunity of manufacturing new species.
The Live Oak, Quercus vikens, Willd. Sp. PI. vol. iv. p. 425. Pursh. Fl. Amer.
Sept. vol. ii. p. 626. — Mon(Ecia Polyandria, Linn. AMENTACEiE, Juss.
The Live Oak has already been spoken of in the article entitled The Live-Oakers" (p. 236). When left growing detached and free
