ICTERID.E: AMERICAN STARLINGS; BLACKBIRDS, ETC. 



46a 



ation olivaceous with yellow edije of wine: 'ind inconspicuous head-stripes. (Embernagra of 

 former eds. of the Key, ami of A. 0. U. Lists as of U. S. writers generally ; hut our bird 

 proves not to belong to that S. Am. genus. Arremonops RiDGw. Man. 189(J, 2d ed. p. 434; 

 A. 0. U. Suppl. List, Auk, Jan. 1897, p. 129.) 



A. rufivirga'ta. (Lat. rufiis, rufous, virgata, striped; virga, a rod.) Greex Fixch, 

 Texas Sparrow. Adult ^ : Above, dull olive-green, brighter on wings and tail. Under 

 I)arts shading from color of the upper through grayish-(dive and olive-gray to sordid whitish, 

 purest on middle of belly. Inner webs of wing-quills fuscous ; tail the same, but more glossed 

 with greenish, and sometimes showing traces of crosswise watering with darker waves, as often 

 seen in the Song Sparrow. Whole bend and lining of wing bright clear yellow. Crown like 

 back, with two broad stripes of dull rufous from nostrils to nape; a similar rufous stripe behind 

 eye, sometimes traceable past eye to the lore, then defining a superciliary line of light olive- 

 gray or whitisli. A whitish eye-ring. Upper mandible light brown, lower drying yellowish ; 

 feet pale. Length 6.25-6.75 (not 5.50, as in Baird) ; extent 8.50-9.00; wing 2.40-2.75; tail 

 the same; bill 0.50; tarsus 0.90 ; middle toe and claw 0.75. 9 does not differ materially, 

 and young lacks the head-stripes. Young, first plumage: Above, mi.Ked brown and (dive- 

 tawny; wings brown, edged with olive, the coverts edged and tipped with tawny; breast like 

 back; belly tawny. Texas, in Lower Rio Grande Valley. Inhabits shrubbery, chaparral,, 

 and close cover of all kinds, where it is difficult to discover, owing to its quiet ways and green- 

 ish tints. Keeps near the ground, but builds a domed nest of twigs and grasses in bushes and 

 low trees; two broods are reared, in May-June and Aug.-Sept. Eggs 2-4, pure white, un- 

 marked, averaging 0.85 X 0.65, but from 0.75-0.90 by 0.60-0.70. (Embernagra rufovirgata 

 of 2d-4th eds. of the Key. Arremonops rufivirgata A. 0. U. Suppl. List, Auk, Jan. 1897,. 

 p. 129, No. 586.) 



Family ICTERID^ : American Starlings ; Blackbirds, etc. 



Cidtrirostral Oscines with 9 primaries, 9 secondaries, 12 rectrices and scuteUatc tarsi. — A 

 family of moderate extent, confined to America, where it represents the Sturnidce, or Starlings 

 of the Old World, and to some extent 

 the Ploceid(B or Weaver-birds and 

 their allies; but the latter family is 

 well distinguished by conirostral bill 

 and 10 primaries. It consists of the 

 Blackbirds and Orioles, among tlie 

 former being included the Bobolinks, 

 Cowbirds, and Meadow " Larks." 

 The family Icteridce is composed of 

 about l.'JO species, distributed among 

 over 30 genera or subgenera. The 

 relationshijis are very close with 

 Fringillidce, on the one hand ; on the 

 other, they grade toward Crows (Cor- 

 vidce). They share with fringilline 

 birds the characters of angulated com- 

 missure and only 9 developed prima- 

 ries, whicli distinguish tliem from all 

 other famiHes wiiatst)ever ; but tlie 



Fig. 313. — A typical Irlmis i /. 

 listinctions from FringiUid<c 



In fact, I know of no character tliat will relegate the Bob(dink and (' 



re not 

 .wbird 



(After Amliibon.) 



easily expressed. 

 () IctcridfC rather 



