354 ZOOLOGY. 



head, capable of being erected. It is frequently brought from India living, 

 and can be taught to articulate words with great exactness. 



The African beef-eater, Buphaga africana {pi. 99, fig. 14), is arranged 

 here. It is a plain-plumaged little bird, only remarkable for the fact that 

 it follows herds of buffaloes and other animals for the purpose of preying 

 upon the larvae of insects which infest them, for which purpose it alights 

 upon their backs. 



Suh.fam. 3. SturnincB, or Starlings. Bill rather long, frequently straight, 

 sometimes curved ; wings moderate, sometimes rather long ; tail short ; 

 tarsi and feet long, robust. Size various, frequently small. 



An assemblage of about fifty species of birds which are distributed 

 throughout the surface of the globe. The common starling of Europe, 

 Sttirnus vulgaris {pi. 100, fig. 1), lives in the fields, having apparently a 

 partiality for marshy or wet places. It walks on the ground in search of 

 its food, which consists of seeds, worms, and insects. There are several 

 birds of this sub-family, which are abundant in Asia and Africa, one of 

 which visits the South of Europe. It is the rose-colored starling. Pastor 

 roseus {pi. 100, fig. 11), one of the most beautiful of this family, having the 

 entire plumage of a delicate rose red, except the head and crest, which are 

 shining black. 



The American larks belong here. The well known species, Sturnella 



ludoviciana (pi. 99, fig. 15), frequents every pasture field and meadow 



to a f^reater or less extent throushout the United States. It lives almost 



'entirely on the ground, and constructs a very ingenious oven-shaped 



nest. 



There are two other species very nearly related to the common bird, 

 one of which {S. neglecta) is found in the Rocky Mountains and the 

 countrv westward, the other {S. hippocrepis) inhabits Mexico. A beau- 

 tiful species {S. militaris) is found in South America, which considerably 

 resembles the common lark, except that instead of the yellow under surface 

 of the body it has those parts very handsome of a reddish pink color. 



Sub-fam. 4. Quiscalince, or American Grakles. Bill lengthened, curved ; 

 wings moderate, pointed ; tail lengthened, graduated, with the sides fre- 

 quently curved upwards ; tarsi and feet long and robust. Size various ; 

 color black. 



This sub-family contains about twenty birds, which are strictly confined 

 to America. They are generally seen in immense flocks migrating north- 

 wards or southwards according to the season. The purple grakle (Quis- 

 calus versicolor), or crow blackbird, is the largest of the species found as 

 far north as Pennsylvania. The rusty grakle (Q. ferrugineus) is equally 

 abundant. 



There are about a dozen species of Mexico and South America which 

 more or less resemble the last named bird. 



Sub-fam. 5. Icterina, or American Orioles. Bill rather long, straight ; 

 winfTs long, pointed ; tail generally rather long ; tarsi and feet moderate, or 

 sometimes long. Size various; colors gay, frequently orange or other 

 yellow, and black. 

 558 



