464 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — PA SSERES — OSCINES. 



than to Fringillidce, iu the current acceptation of these terms; and Dolichonijx orrjHvorus is 

 curiously similar in some respects to Ammodramus caiidacutus. In general, however, IcteridcB 

 are cultrirostral rather than strictly conirostral Osciues, having that cutting rather than 

 crushing style of bill seen in perfection in the Crows, toward which some Icteridce approach ; 

 being thus distinguished by length, acuteness, and not strictly conical shape of the uunotched, 

 unbristled bill, which has a peculiar extension of culmen on forehead, dividing the prominent 

 antife of close-set velvety feathers that reach to or on nasal scale, — a character well exhibited 

 in Stiirnella, for instance. In length, the bill usually equals if it does not exceed the head; the 

 tip is unnotched, rictus unbristled, commissure obtusely but evidently angulated. The bill is 

 shortest and most fringilline in Dolichonyx and Molothrus ; most acute in Orioles (Icterus), 

 where it is sometimes actually decurved ; most thrush-like in the genus Scolecophagus ; most 

 crow-like in Grackles (Quiscalus). (See any figs, beyond.) In some exotic genera (of the 

 subfamily Cassicince or Cassiques) the bill acquires enormous dimensions and very peculiar 

 shapes, from expansion of the mesorhinium into a frontal shield; and in these the nostrils open 

 flush with the bill. Excepting in arboreal Orioles and Cassiques, the feet are gressorial, large 

 and strong, fitted for the more or less terrestrial life which most of the species lead, walking 

 on the ground with ease instead of hopping like most Fringillidce. No specialties of wing or 

 tail ; former usually pointed, latter rounded, sometimes very large and fan-shaped. 



Among our moderate number of species are representatives of four of the five subfamilies 

 into which Icteridce are conveniently and quite naturally divisible. In most genera black is 

 the prevailing color — either uniform and of intense metallic lustre, or contrasted with masses 

 of red or yellow. In Sturnella the pattern is " niggled." In nearly all, the sexes are conspic- 

 uously dissimilar, the 9 being smaller and brownish or streaky in the iridescent black species, 

 greenish and yellowish in the brilliantly colored ones. All are migratory in this country. As 

 a rule they are strictly monogamous, and build elaborate nests ; but our genera Molothrus and 

 Ccdlothrus offer the striking exception of polygamy and polyandry among Oscines ; for these, 

 like the Old World Cuckoos, do not pair and make no nest. Other details are best given under 

 heads of the four North American subfamilies first established in the 2d ed. of the Key, 1884. 

 The A. 0. U. Lists take no note of these; but they are recognized in the British Museum Cat- 

 alogue of Birds, xi, 1886, by so eminent an authority as Dr. P. L. Sclater, and should not have 

 been ignored by our Committee. These groups, with their component genera, may be ana- 

 lyzed as follows by the salient features more likely to attract the attention of the student than 

 less obvious technical characters : — 



Analysis of SubfaniiUes and Genera. 



Agf.l«in«. Marsh Blackbirds, etc. Terrestrial and gregarious. Bill conic-acute, sometimes quite fringilline, shorter, 

 or scarcely longer tlian head. Feet stout. 



Bobolinks. Sexes unlike in summer only. Black, white, and buff (f, or yellowish (f in winter and 5 ; no red. 

 Bill fringilline. Tail-feathers very acute. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw .... Dolichonyx 



Cowbirds. Sexes unlike. Lustrous black (f, brown $ ; no red or yellow Molothrus 



Cowbirds Sexes less unlike, cf with erectile ruff on neck, sinuated primaries and red eyes . . Callothrus 



Marsh Blackbirds. Sexes unlike. Lustrous black (;f, red on wing; streaky 9; no yellow .... Agelaus 



Prairie Blackbirds. Sexes unlike. Lustrous black (J, brown 9, both with yellow head . . Xanlhocephalus 



8tdrneli,in.e. Meadow Larks. Terrestrial and imperfectly gregarious. Bill of peculiar shape. Tail very short. Some 



of the secondaries elongated. Feet large and stout. 



Sexes alike. Motley-colored, extensively yellow below, with black breastplate Sturnella 



IcTERiN«. Orioles. Arboreal, non-gressorial, non-gregarious. Bill extremely acute, sometimes decurved. Feet weak. 

 Sexes unlike. 



Black, with yellow or orange or chestnut in masses, in the cf; 9 greenish and yellowish Icterus 



QmscALiNiE. Grackles. Terrestrial and gregarious. Bill elongate, turdine or corvine. Feet stout, gressorial. Color 

 of (f entirely iridescent black ; 9 brown or blackish. 



Thrush Blarkhirds. Bill shorter than head, turdine ; even tail shorter than wings Scolecophagus 



Crow Blackbirds. Bill not shorter than head, corvine ; graduated tail shorter or not than wings Quiscalus 



