AVES. 355 



These birds have been called Hang Nests, on account of then- con- 

 structing pensile or hanging nests like that of the Baltimore oriole or 

 hanging bird of the United States, Icterus haltimore {pi. 99, fig. 16). This 

 bird, which is a good representation of the family, is one of the hand- 

 somest and most sociable of the birds of the United States, making his 

 nest almost at the very doors of all farmhouses throughout the country. 

 In addition to his elegant form and brilliant orange and black plumage he 

 lias a very agreeable voice, and is a universal favorite. 



About fifty other species are found in other parts of the continent of 

 America and the West Indies. They are amongst the most beautiful and 

 graceful of American birds. 



Sub-fa?n. G. Agelaince, or Troopials. Bill moderate, or rather short, 

 conical, with the culmen flattened, and more or less broad ; wings mode- 

 rate; tarsi and feet rather lengthened and slender; claws strong and 

 sharp. Size small ; colors frequently black. 



Another sub-family of American birds, all the species of which bear 

 more or less intimate relationship to the red-winged blackbird of the 

 United States (Agelaius phoEniceus), a bird known to everybody. After 

 passing the winter in the Southern States of the Union it arrives in the 

 North in April, and frequents the vicinity of swampy meadows, or similar 

 situations, where it constructs its nest, and continues to make itself very 

 conspicuous by its oft-repeated and rather agreeable notes, and handsome 

 black plumage and red shoulders. During September, however, the birds 

 of this species assemble in flocks and proceed south. 



The cow bird (Molothrus pecoris) belongs here. It is a plain little bird 

 with entirely black plumage, remarkable for its partiality for cattle, which 

 it walks after in their pastures, and for the curious habit of depositing its 

 eggs, like the cuckoo of Europe, in the nests of other birds. It is common 

 throughout North America. 



FaM. 3. FRlNGILLTDiE, OR SPARROWS AND FiNCIIES. Bill short, thick, 



strong, generally conic and angular at the base ; wings and tail generally 

 moderate ; tarsi and feet usually slender. 



An immense family of little birds known as sparrows, finches, tanagers, 

 weaver birds, and by many other names. 'Imey inhabit the entire globe, 

 and are more or less numerous in all countries. 



Not less than six hundred birds belong to this family. 



Sub-fam. 1. PloceincB, or Weaver Birds. Bill strong, conic, extending 

 slightly on the head ; wings somewhat rounded ; tarsi and feet robust. 

 Size small. 



This sub-family is restricted to Asia and Africa, and comprises numerous 

 species of little birds remarkable for constructing curious bag-shaped nests, 

 for which purpose they use cotton and the fibres of plants. Some of the 

 species are clothed in very brilliant scarlet plumage, as the grenadier 

 Sfrosbeaks {Ploceiis oryx and ignicolor), which inhabit Africa. 



The widow birds as they are called, but properly Whidah birds, from the 

 name of a place from which they are brought in Western Africa, belong 

 here. The species usually seen in collections are the common widow bird 



559 



