FAM. AVI. JAYS, CEOWS, MAGPIES, ETC. 151 



12. Boat-tailed Grackle (513. Quiscalus mdjor). — A very 

 large, southern, beautifully metallic, bluish-black bird, with 

 the head and breast more purplish, and the wings and tail 

 less so. The female is much smaller in size ; and brown in 

 color, the lower parts being lighter. These birds are found in 

 flocks in marshy places or near the water. 



Length, llJ-17^ ; wing, 5i-7i ; tail, 5-7| ; culmen, Ij-lf. The smaller 

 numbers are the dimensions of females. Regions along the Atlantic and 

 Gulf coasts from Virginia to Texas. 



FAMILY XV. STARLINGS (STURNID^) 



A family (200 species) of Old World birds one species of 

 which has apparently been successfully introduced into this 

 country. 



1. Starling (493. Sturnus vidgciris). — A yellow-billed, metal- 

 lic-purplish, walking bird, much spotted with buff ; the wings, 

 tail, and under tail coverts are dark brownish-gray more or less 

 edged with buff. In icinter the bill changes to dark brown 

 and the entire under parts become heavily spotted with white. 

 The bill is long and conical ; ^ the tail only about half as long as 

 the wings ; and the first primary quill less than one inch long.'' 



Length, 8 j ; wing, 5; tail, 2| ; tarsus, \\; culmen, L Europe and 

 northern Asia. Introduced and apparently established in the vicinity of 

 New York City. 



FAMILY XVI. JAYS, CROWS, MAGPIES, ETC. (CORVID^) 



A large family (200 species) of rather large, heavy-billed, 

 peculiarly intelligent birds, with the nostrils generally well cov- 

 ered with bristh" feathers.^ They have been divided into five 

 subfamilies two of which are found almost everywhere. (1) The 

 Jays are large, brightly marked, and usually brightly colored, 

 saucy, noisy birds, with short, rounded wings and long, grad- 

 uated tailsf® With hardly any exceptions their voices are 



