148 



NoKTil AMKKKJAN DIKDS. 



Subfamily AGELAIN^. 



Char. Bill stout, conical, and acntely pointed, not longer than the head; the outlines 

 nearly straight, the tip not decurved. Legs adapted for walking, longer than the head. 

 Claws not much curved. Tail moderate, shorter than the wings; nearly even. 



The Atjclnincc, through Molothrus and Dolichonyx, present a close relation 

 to the FriiKjillidcc in the comparative shortness and conical shape of the 

 bill, and, in fact, it is very difficult to express in brief words the distinc- 

 tions which evidently e.xist. Dolichonyx may be set aside as readily deter- 

 minable by the character of the feet and tail. The peculiar subfamily 

 chai-acteristics of Molothrua will lie found under the generic remarks respect- 

 ing it. 



The following diagnosis will serve to define the genera : — 



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



Dolichouyx. Tail-feathers with rigid stiffened acuminate points. 

 MiiMli' toe very long, exceeding the head. 



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. 



Agelaius. First quill shorter than the second and third. Outer lateral 

 claws scarcely reaching to the base of middle ; claws moderate. 

 Xanthooephalus. First quill longest. Outer lateral claw reaching 

 nearly to the tip of the middle. Toes and claws all much elongated. 



C. Bill as long as, or longer than, the head. Feathers of crown with the 

 shafts prolonged into stiffened bristles. Nostrils covered by a scale which 

 stands out more or less horizontally. 



Sturnella. Tail-feathers acute. Middle toe equ.il to the tarsus. 

 Trupialis. Tuil-leathers rounded. Middle toe shorter than the tarsus. 



Genus DOLICHONYX, Sw.uxsoij. 

 Doliclumyx, Swainson, Zool. Juiuii. ill, 1S:;7, 351. iType, Embcriza oryzivora, L.) 



Gen. Cn.\R. Bill short, stout, conical, little more than 



Dolichonifx ortfzivoriix. 



half the head ; the commissure 

 slightly sinuated ; the culmen 

 nearly straight. iliddle toe 

 considerably longer than the 

 tarsus (which is about as long 

 as the head) ; the inner lateral 

 toe longest, but not reaching 

 the base of the middle claw. 

 Wings long, first quill long- 

 est. Tail-feathers acuminately 

 pointed at the tip, with the 

 shaft stiffened and rigid, as in 

 the Woodpeckers. 



Tlie peculiar characteristic of this genus is found in the rigid scansorial 



