250 LAND-BIRDS. 



The Orioles are arboreal ; but the other Starlings are in a 

 great measure terrestrial, being walking birds. They are 

 generally granivorous rather than insectivorous, and are 

 migratory and gregarious. The Orioles, however, form a 

 distinct group, ranked as a subfamily, Icterinm (Gen. V). 

 Bill rather slender, and acute, with upper and lower outlines 

 both more or less curved ; tail rounded. Birds non-grega- 

 rious, and scarcely granivorous ; fine musicians, and clever 

 architects, building pensile, woven nests. (Fig. 13.) The 

 other subfamilies are : — 



Agelaiince (I-IV), (fig. 12). Bill generally stout ; upper 

 and lower outlines both uncurved ; tail nearly even. I, II, 

 sweetly musical ; tail-feathers pointed. II, III, bill fringil- 

 line. IV, bill as in pi. 1, fig. 18. I, bill similar, but elon- 

 gated. Quiscalince, or Grackles (VI, VII), (fig. 14). Bill 

 with the edges noticeably turned inward, with upper outline 

 much curved, but lower nearly straight. Birds scarcely mu- 

 sical, but eminently gregarious. Nests rather rude, and never 

 on the ground. 



I. STURNELLA. 



A. MAGNA. Meadoiv Lark. Old-field Larh. " Marsh 

 Quail. ^^ A common summer resident of New England, and 

 known to have occurred here in winter.* 



a. About 10-|- inches long. Upper parts, sides, etc., 

 brown, with much pale edging, and blackish chiefly in streaks. 

 Outer tail-feathers, largely white. Median and superciliary 

 lines, pale ; a part of the latter, the edge of the wing, and 

 the under i^arts^ bright yellow^ with a blaclc crescent on the 

 breast. The female is rarely more than ten inches long. 



b. The nest is built often on or beside a tussock, and 

 usually on or near a meadow. It is composed chiefly of 

 grass, except perhaps the lining, and is often ingeniously con- 

 cealed by a more or less perfect arch. The eggs of each set 

 are four, or sometimes five, average 1.10 X .80 of an inch, 

 though variable in size, and are white, marked with (reddish) 



* A resident of southern New Eng- during- the winter months. It also 

 land, common near the coast at all sea- breeds sparingly in some of the less 

 sons, less numerous and more local in- elevated and more open parts of north- 

 land, where it is seldom or never seen em New England. — W. B. 



