OF ORNITHOLOGY 67 



graphical varieties of some given type form. Taking all these 

 facts into account, we can easily imagine, and in reality prove, 

 that nearly every genera possesses a typical representative of 

 that genera. The shifting of species from one genera to an- 

 other, though strictly in accordance with a commendable spirit 

 sometimes unwisely persistently manifested however to ar- 

 range the species thus typically under their appropriate genera, 

 must be studied under the direction of some competent au- 

 thority or looked for in the various tables of synonyms which 

 are given by so many of our ornithological writers. 



It were not a part of our plan to characterize the genera of 

 our North American birds. To simply mention them in what 

 we consider their best systematic position, for the present at 

 any rate, were enough for our purpose here. 



FAMILY XVII ICTERIDAE THE BLACKBIRDS 

 STARLINGS ORIOLES and GRACKLES 



Latin icterus, "a j-ellow bird." Greek ikteros. 

 This is one of the most familiar and attractive of the fami- 

 lies of North American birds. Old and young turn to it with 

 pleasure and delight. The number of species is not great ; 

 but they are distributed everywhere, and their well-known 

 forms are looked for with eager expectations, each year, 

 throughout the length and breadth of our land. It is also a 

 very satisfactory family with which to deal scientifically, as it 

 is well defined and definitely grouped. Its likeness to the 

 Fringillidce is, however, in many important respects, very 

 close ; yet a glance at the general form of the birds, the bill, 

 and the general coarseness of the plumage, will at once show 

 a difference, betwjeen the two — notwithstanding the fact that 

 both retain the 9 wing primaries and the angulated commis- 

 sure to the bill. The bill conforms to the Corvidoe, and is in 

 general nearly or quite as long as the head ; it is long with 

 sharp edges rather than short with dull edges, and is un- 

 notched at the tip ; rictus without bristles. Legs strong and 

 stout. As a rule the tail and wings are rather long in propor- 



