called the rice-bird of Catesby. It is about the size of a sparrow, being six inches three quarters long, with the head, and whole under side of the body, black; hind part of the neck in some pale yellow, in others white; coverts of the wings and primaries black; the last edged with white; part of the scapulars, lesser coverts of the wings, and rump, white; back black, edged with dull yellow; tail of the same colours, and each feather sharply pointed; the legs are red. The head, upper part of the neck, and back, of the female is yellowish brown, spotted with black; under part of a dull yellow; sides thinly streaked with black. These birds inhabit in vast numbers the island of Cuba, where they commit great ravages among the early crops of rice, which precede those of Carolina. As soon as the crops of that province are to their palate, they quit Cuba, and pass over the sea, in numerous flights, directly north, and are very often heard in their passage by sailors frequenting that course. Their appearance is in September, while the rice is yet milky; and they commit such devastations, that forty acres of that grain have been totally ruined by them in a small time. They arrive very lean, but soon grow so fat as to fly with difficulty; and when shot often burst with the fall. They continue in Carolina not much above three weeks, and retire by the time the rice begins to harden, going on to other parts, and staying in each only so long as the rice continues green. They come into Rhode Island and New York at the end of April, or the second week in May, frequenting the borders of fields, and live on insects, &c., till the maize is fit for their palate, when they begin by pecking holes in the sides of the husks, and after satiating themselves go on to another, which leaves room for the rain to get in, and effectually spoils the plants. They continue there during the summer, and breed, returning as autumn approaches to the southward. The males and females do not arrive together; the females come first. They are esteemed to be the most delicate birds of those parts, and the male is said to have a fine note. This species is known in the country by the names of Bob Lincoln and Conquilla; likewise called by some the White-backed Maize-thief.