ICTERID.E — STURNELLIX.E : MEADOW STARLINGS. 



471 



aud collects iu colonies to breed iu marshy spots, sloughs, and coulees, anywhere in its general 

 range ; I have myself found it breeding from New Mexico to Manitoba. Nest a light but large 

 thick-brimmed fabric of dried reeds and 

 grasses, slung to growing ones, at no 

 considerable elevation above the water ; 

 it is usually built late in May and in 

 June; 5-6 inches iu outside diameter, 

 and about as deep ; eggs 2-6, usually 

 3-4, 0.95 to 1.12 long'by 0.G9 to 0.78 

 broad, averaging 1.00 X 0.70; ])ale 

 grayish-green, spotted as in Scolecopha- 

 gus with reddish and other browns, aud 

 neutral tints, but seldom scrawled as in 

 Agelceus. A line large species, con- 

 spicuous by its yellow head among the 

 several Blackbirds that troop together 

 in the West. (Icterus icterocephahis 

 and I. xanthocephalus Bp. ; Xantho- 

 cephalus icterocephahis Baird, 1858, 

 and of all former eds. of the Key ; Xan- 

 thocephalus xanthocephalus Jordan, 

 1884, aud A. 0. U. Lists, 1886 and 1895, No. 497; Agelaius longipes Sw. 1827; Xaniho- 

 cephahis longipes ScL. 1884; Psarocolius i:)erspicillatus Wagler, 1829; Xanthocephalus per- 

 spicdlatus Bp. 1850 ; and with all these names to select from, it is sad to think that the A. 0. U. 

 rules require us to perpetuate the tautonym above adopted.) 



Yellow-headed Bli( kbird, reduced (Slieppard del 



Subfamily STURNELLIN/E : Meadow Starlings. 



If Marsh Blackbirds, Orioles, and Grackles be respectively considered t<« represent sub- 

 families of Icteridfe, Meadow Starlings seem to be equally entitled to such distinction : aud I 

 find that by making Sturnella (with Trupialis) type of a subfamily, Agelceincc are susceptible 

 of better definition. The characters are included under head of the type genus, as follows : 

 STURXEL'LA. (Irregular dimin. of Lat. sturnus, a starling. Fig. 318.) Meadow Larks. 

 (Name "lark" objectionable aud misleading, but apparently ineradicable.) A remarkable 



genus of Ictericla. Bill along cubneu 

 longer than head, shorter than tarsus; 

 depth at base about ^ the length ; 

 outlines about straight ab(»ve and be- 

 low, and along commissure to the 

 strong bend near its base. Culmeu 

 fiattened throughout, extending broad 

 and far into feathers of forehead ; lat- 

 erally, fniutal feathers reaching uar- 

 rnw .scaled nostrils. Inner lateral ttic 

 ratlicr longer than outer, daw of 

 neither reaching base of middle claw. 

 Hind toe long, with a great claw 

 twice as large as middle one. Feet very large aud stout, reaching beyond end of tail when 

 outstretched; eminently fitted for terrestrial locomotion. Wings short and much rounded; little 

 difference in lengths of lst-5th quills; enlarged inner secondaries nearly covering them in 



