Spectroscopy of stellar X-ray sources in the Magellanic Clouds

In the Magellanic Clouds, about 75 candidate stellar X-ray sources have been detected. Most of these positions have now been investigated and optical identifications made for about 50 percent. The majority of sources are foreground dwarf stars or background active galaxies. Detailed investigations exist for three SMC sources and six LMC sources. It is possible to make a preliminary comparison with the population of galactic X-ray sources. The Magellanic Cloud X-ray binaries have a number of unique or remarkable properties and the most important ones are presented and discussed. These include the most rapid pulsars (SMC X-1, 0548-66), the possible precessing disk in LMC X-4, and the black hole candidates LMC X-3, LMC X-1. The properties of these objects relate to the evolution of stars in the Magellanic Clouds and how it differs from the Galaxy.