BIKDS — ICTERIDAE — AGKLAINAE. 521 



Family ICTEllTDAE. 



Cii. Primaries nine. Tarsi scutcllato anteriorly ; plated behind. Bill long, generally equal to llio head or longer, straight 



or "entlv curved, conical, without any notch, tho coniini:^8Ure bending downwards at an obtuse angle at the base. Gonys 

 generally more than half tho cuhnen. Basal joint of the middle too free on tho inner side ; united half-way on tho outer. 

 Tail rather long, rounded. Legs stout. 



This family is strictly confiaotl to the New "World, and is closely related in many of its 

 members to the Fringillidae. Both liave the angulated conimisNure and the nine primaries ; 

 the bill is, however, usually much longer ; the rictus is comijlL-tcly without brisllen, and the 

 tip of the bill without notch. 



The affinities of some of the genera are still closer to the family of Sfurnidae or Starlings, of 

 which the Slurnus vulgaris may be taken as the type. This family is, however, exclusively 

 Old World, and readily distinguished by the constant presence of a rudimentary outer primary, 

 making ten in all. 



There are three sub-families of the Ideridae — the Agelainae, the Iclerinae, and the Quiscalinae. 



Sub-Family AGELAINAE. 



Cii. — Bill stout, conical, and acutely pointed, not longer than the head ; the outlines nearly straight, the tip not decurved. 

 Legs adapted fur walking, longer than the head. ClaH's not much curved. Tail moderate, shorter than tho wings; nearly even. 



The Agelainae, through Molothrus and Dolichonyx, present a close relation to the Fringillidae 

 in the comparative shortness and conical shape of the bill, and, in fact, it is very difficult to 

 express in brief words the distinctions which evidently exist. Dolichonyx may be set aside as 

 readily determinable by the character of the feet and tail. The peculiar sub-family character- 

 istics of Molothrus will be found under the generic remarks respecting it. 



The following diagnosis will serve to define the genera : 



A. Bill shorter than the head. 



Dolichonyx. — Tail feathers with rigid stiffened acuminate points. Middle 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 claw scarcely 



reacliing to the base of middle ; claws moderate. 

 X.\STHOCEPHALUS. — 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 equal to the tarsus. 

 Trcpialis. — Tail feathers rounded. Tarsus longer than the middle toe. 



June 24, 1858. 



66 b 



