308 



Family ICTERlDyE. 



The Icteridcr represent the Starlings (StiirnklcB) in the New 

 "World, from -which the latter are altogether excluded. The)- are 

 typical Oscines, and bearing no trace of the outer or tenth primary 

 (which has become altogether aborted), must, according to the 

 arrangement adopted in this work, be placed in the series of " Frin- 

 gilliformes," or " nine-quilled Passeres," in which this wing-forma- 

 tion prevails. 



The Icteridce are generally of a rather large size for typical 

 Passeres, some of the larger Cassiqucs rivalling even the Crows in 

 stature, and the majority of them being of considerably greater 

 average bulk than the Tanagers. The bill is long, equal to or 

 longer than the head, straight or gently curved, more or less conical, 

 without any terminal notch, and unprovided with any rictal 

 bristles. 



The tarsi are covered in front with divided scutes, behind with 

 one undivided plate, as in other typical Oscines. 



The wings are long or of moderate length, and contain 9 primaries 

 and 9 secondaries, altogether IS remiges. 



The tail varies much in length and shape, but is usually long or 

 of moderate length ; and always contains 12 rectrices, of which the 

 two central are the longest. 



The Icteridce are as a rule strictly monogamous, and builders of 

 elaborate nest-structures. But an extraordinary exception takes place 

 in some species of the genus Molothrus, in which the polygamous 

 and parasitic habits of some of the Cuckoos of the Old World are 

 repeated. 



The Icterida are strictly confined to the ISTearctic and Paltearctic 

 Eegions, in which they are distributed from the Arctic Circle to 

 Patagonia, being most plentiful in Central America and in the nor- 

 thern parts of South America. 



Key to the Subfamilies. 



A. Nostrils naked, exposed: mesorhi- 



nium more or less expanded into a 



frontal shield I. CASSICINJE, p. 309. 



B. Nostrils more or less covered with a 



membrane ; mesorhiniiim elevated 

 but not expanded. 

 a. Culmen straight or nearly so ; 



mesorhinium more or less 



flattened. 



a'. Outer secondaries normal IT. AGEL^IN^E, p. .330. 



h'. Outer secondaries elongated . . III. ST UliNELLlN JE, p. 355. 



