21. GYMNOMTSTAX. 361 



Subfamily IV. ICTERIN^. 



The Icterince, or Hang-nests, as it is better to call them, instead of 

 using the incorrect term of Oriole, applied to this group by the 

 Americans, contain some o£ the most brilliantly coloured birds of 

 the American ornis. The bright yellow and orange of their plumage 

 are, as a rule, relieved only by black and white. In contrast to the 

 two preceding subfamilies, the Haug-nests are essentially arboreal in 

 their habits, seeking fruit and insects among the branches of trees, 

 and rarely descending to the ground. In conformity with their 

 habits the tarsi are shortened though strong, and the claws are short, 

 broad, and much curved. The sexes are in some cases quite dis- 

 similar, in others undistiuguishable by external markings. The bill 

 is slender, more or less decurved, and very acute ; the mesorhinium is 

 not flattened, but rounded ; the tail is always rounded, and more or 

 less graduated. 



The Icterince extend from North and Central America down to 

 the forests of Southern Brazil and Bolivia, but are most abundant 

 specifically in Central America, where some of the largest and most 

 brilliant forms are endemic. 



The Icterince are builders of elaborate nests, in many cases pensile 

 and purse-shaped like those of the Cassiques, in others apparently 

 open and cup-shaped (see ' North- American Birds,' vol. ii. pp. 184 et 

 scq.). The eggs are bluish or pinkish white, profusely spotted with 

 red and purple. 



Key to the Genera. 



A. Space round the eye and lores naked 21. Gymnomystax, p. 361. 



B. Space round the eye and lores feathered. . 22. Icterus, p. 362. 



21. GYMNOMYSTAX. 



Type. 

 Gymnomystax, Reichenb. Av. Syst. Nat. i. Ixxiii. 



(1850) G. melanicterus. 



Head of Gymncmxystax fnelanicterus. 



This remarkable form has been often placed with the Agelceince. 

 But the slightly decurved culmen and lineiform mesorhinium justify 

 "US, I think, in removing it to the Icterince, with which it agrees in 

 style of plumage, as it does also, I believe, in habits and mode of 

 nesting. 



Mange. Guiana and Amazonia. 



