148 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Subfamily AGELAIN^. 



Char. Bill stout, conical, and acutely pointed, not longer than the head; the outlines 

 nearly straight, the tip not decurved. Legs adapted for walking, longer than the head. 

 Claws not much curved. Tail moderate, shorter than the wings ; nearly even. 



The Agelainm, through Molothrus and Dolichonyx, present a close relation 

 to the Fringillidce in the comparative shortness and conical shape of the 

 bill, and, in fact, it is very difficult to express in brief words the distinc- 

 tions which evidently exist. Dolichonyx may be set aside as readily deter- 

 minable by the character of the feet and tail. The peculiar subfamily 

 characteristics of Molothrus will be found under the generic remarks respect- 

 ing it. 



The following diagnosis will serve to define the genera : — 



A. Bill shorter than the head. Feathers of head and nostrils as in B. 



Dolichonyx. Tail-feathers with rigid stiffened acuminate points. 

 ^Middle toe very long, exceeding the head. 



Molothrus. Tail with the feathers simple ; middle toe shorter than 

 the tarsus or head. 



B. Bill as long as the head. Feathers of crown soft. Nostrils covered by 

 a scale which is directed more or less downwards. 



Agelaius. First quill shorter than the second and third. Outer lateral 

 claws scarcely reaching to the base of middle ; claws moderate. 

 Xanthocephalus. First quill longest. Outer lateral claw reaching 

 nearly to the tip of the middle. Toes and claws all much elongated. 

 C Bill as long as, or longer than, the head. Feathers of crown with the 

 shafts prolonged into stiffened bristles. Nostrils covered by a scale which 

 stands out more or less horizontally. 



Sturnella. Tail-feathers acute. Middle toe equal to the tarsus. 

 Trupialis. Tail-feathers rounded. Middle toe shorter than the tarsus. 



Genus DOLICHONYX, Swainson. 



Dolklwnyx, Swainson, Zool. Journ. Ill, 1827, 351. (Type, Emberiza oryzivora, L.) 



G-EN. Char. Bill short, stout, conical, little more than half the head ; the commissure 



slightly sinuated ; the culmen 

 nearly straight. Middle toe 

 considerably longer than the 

 tarsus (which is about as long 

 as the liead) ; the inner lateral 

 toe longest, but not reaching 

 the base of the middle claw. 

 Wings long, first quill long- 

 est. Tail-feathers acuminately 

 pointed at the tip, with the 

 shaft stiffened and rigid, as in 

 Dolichonyx oryzivorus. ^j-,g Woodpeckers. 



The peculiar characteristic of this genus is found in the rigid scansorial 



