A distinct ring around the eye, and spot on the nares, whitish cinereous.
Bill and feet, dark brownish black.
Iris, white.
Female. Similar to the male, but with the colours rather less vivid.
Hab. California. Spec. in Mus. Acad. Philada.
Obs. We consider this bird as decidedly related to the Wrens, and as forming a well characterized genus, of which it is, as yet, the only known species. It is frequently brought in collections from Western America.
The plant represented in the plate is the Eschscholtzia Californica, a native of California.
The figure in our plate is about three-fourths of the natural size.
ICTERUS CUCULLATUS.—(Swainson.)
The Hooded Oriole.
PLATE VIII.—Male and Female.
Some of the most beautiful of the American Orioles are inhabitants of Mexico. Of these, we present, in the plate now before the reader, one of the smallest of the species, which, though it cannot compete with many others of its more richly coloured relatives, is still entitled to make considerable claims. The various shades of the richest yellow colours are almost exhausted in the splendid species of these birds which are found in Mexico, and in South America, and as an accompaniment to the luxuriant vegetation of those countries, they form, necessarily, a most agreeable and interesting feature.