ICTEEID.E THE AMEEICAN OEIOLES. 305 



FAMILY ICTERID^E. THE AMEEICAN OEIOLES. 



"CHAR. Primaries nine. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly; plated behind. Bill long, 

 generally equal to the head or longer, straight, or gently curved, conical, without any 

 notch, the commissure bending downwards at an obtuse angle at the base. Gonys 

 generally more than half the culmen, no bristles about the base of bill. Basal joint of 

 the middle toe free on the inner side; united half-way on the outer. Tail rather long, 

 rounded. Legs short." (Hist. Jff. Am. B.) 



This family is one of those eminently characteristic of the New 

 World, all the species being peculiar to America. It is of course 

 most numerously represented within the Tropics. 



Three "subfamilies" have been denned, but their limits are purely 

 arbitrary, it being in some cases difficult to decide whether a species 

 belongs to the genus Icterus or Agelaius, each typical, respectively, 

 of the so-called "Icterince" and "Agelaince." These artificial sections 

 are thus denned in History of North American Birds (Vol. II., 

 page 147 : 



Agelainae. Bill shorter than, or about equal to, the head; thick, conical, both mandi- 

 bles about equal in depth; the outlines all more or less straight, the bill not decurved at 

 tip. Tail rather short, nearly even or slightly rounded. Legs longer than the head, 

 adapted for walking; claws moderately curved. 



Icterinae. Bill rather slender, about as long as the head; either straight or decurved. 

 Lower mandible less thick than the 'upper; the commissure not sinuated. Tarsi not 

 longer than the head, nor than middle toe ; legs adapted for perching. Claws much 

 curved. 



Quiscalinae. Tail lengthened, considerably or excessively graduated. Bill as long as, 

 or longer than, the head; the culmen curved towards the end, the tip bent down, the 

 cutting edges inflexed, the commissure sinuated. Legs longer than the head, fitted for 

 walking. 



The North American genera may be thus arranged under their re- 

 spective "subfamily" headings : 



Subfamily Agelainae. 



A. Bill shorter than the head. Feathers of head and nostrils as in B. 



1. Dolichonyx. Tail feathers with rigid stiffened acuminate points. Middle toe 

 very long, exceeding the head. 



2. Molothrus. Tail with the feathers simple; middle toe shorter than the tarsus or 

 head. 



B. Bill as long as the head. Feathers of crown soft. Nostrils covered by a scale which. > 

 is directed more or less downwards. 



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