lOTERID^ — THE ORIOLES. 179 



of its articulation its song is hardly excelled, reseni1)ling very nearly the 

 song of the Wood Thrush. Mr. Kidgway describes its modulations as ex- 

 pressed by the syllables tuii()-tung-tun(jaJi-til' lali-til' lali-tuncj , each note pow- 

 erful and distinct. The difference between the other notes of tlie two birds 

 is still greater than in tlieir song, and even in character tliese are not alike. 

 In the neglecta the call-note of watchfulness or alarm is a loud, deep-toned 

 tuclt, similar to tlie chuck of the Blackbird, but much louder and more metallic. 

 That of sympathy for the young, or anxiety when the nest is approached, is 

 a loud, liquid tyur, slightly resembling the corai)laining note of the eastern 

 Bluebird, and also of the Orchard Oriole. All of its notes are of a power 

 corresponding to the size of the bird. 



Mr. liidgway also notices important differences in their flight. That of 

 the eastern species is carried on by an occasional S])asniodic beat or jerk of 

 the wings, which are then extended, the bird sailing a sliort distance. The 

 flight of the western Lark is much more irregular, the bird flitting along by 

 a trembling flutter of the wings, never assuming these peculiar features. 



An egg of this species, collected by Dr. Cooper in Washington Territory, 

 June 19, 1856, measures 1.20 inches in length and .86 in breadth. It is of 

 an oblong-oval shape, obtuse ; tlie ground white, sparingly spotted with a 

 very dark purple, most of the markings being at the larger end. Three eggs 

 from Arizona, collected by Dr. Palmer, measure 1.10 inches by .80. The 

 markings are of much lighter shades of lilac, purple, and purplish and red- 

 dish-brown. Tlie markings are more generally diffused, but predominate at 

 the larger end. An egg from the Yellowstone, collected by ]\Ir. Audubon, is 

 unusually pointed at one end, measures 1.13 inches by .82. The spots 

 are a dark purplish-brown, intermingled with smaller and lighter dottings 

 of reddish-brown. Eggs from California do not vary essentially in their 

 markings from those of Arizona, and have an average measurement of 1.10 

 inches by .85. As a general rule, the mottling of the eggs of the western 

 bird is finer than that of the eastern. 



Subfamily ICTERIN-Sl. 



Genus ICTERUS, Auot. 



Icterus, Brisson, R. A. 1760. — Gray, Genera. 



Xanthornus, CuviER, Le?. Aiiat. Cornp. 1800. — Gray, Genera. 



Pcndulinus, Vieillot, Analyse, 1816. 



Yjyhantes, ViEiLLOT, Analyse, 1816. — Gray, Genera. 



Gen. Char. Bill slender, elongated, as long as the head, generally a little decurved, 

 and very acnte. Tarsi not longer than the middle toe, nor tlian the head ; claws .short, 

 much curved ; outer lateral toe a little longer than the inner, reaching a little beyond base 

 of middle toe. Feet adapted for perching. Tail rounded or graduated. Prevailing colors 

 yellow or orange, and black. 



The species of this subfamily are all as strikingly characterized by 



