AMERICAN BLACKBIRDS. 191 



§ 2. Birds related to the Crow. (Coraces.) 



In these the bill is cultrate, and the edges sharp. The outer toe is 

 also free, and scarcely united at base to the middle one. 



AMERICAN BLACKBIRDS. (Quiscalus. Vieill) 



With the BILL bare, compressed from the base, and entire ; the 

 edges sharp, and somewhat bent inwards ; the upper mandible car- 

 ried back so as to form an acute angle on the foreliead, curved from 

 the middle, projecting considerably over the lower, and provided 

 with a long keel within. Nostrils oval, half closed by a membrane. 

 The TONGUE cartilaginous, flattened, torn at the sides, and cleft at the 

 point. The tarsus a little longer than the middle toe, the lateral 

 toes nearly equal, with the inner free, and the outer united at base 

 to the middle one. Wings moderate in length ; the 1st primary equal 

 to the 5th, and but little shorter than the 2d, 3d, and 4th, which are 

 longest. The tail composed of 12 feathers, and more or less 

 rounded. 



The TTiale black ; female generally brownish. The young differ- 

 ing from the adult. They moult annually, but, by the wearing of 

 the tips of the feathers, one species undergoes an additional change 

 like the Starling, — They are gregarious, retiring to warmer climates 

 in winter ; usually build socially in trees, and lay about 5 eggs. 

 Their flesh is dark and not esteemed. 



