IBVCTER—ICTERUS 457 
IBYCTER, see CARACARA. 
ICTERIA, see CHAT. 
ICTERUS, a bird so called by classical authors, and supposed 
by Pliny to be the same as the Galgulus, which nearly all writers 
agree in considering to be what we now know as Oriolus galbula 
(ORIOLE). At any rate it signified one in the plumage of which 
yellow or green predominated, and hence Brisson did not take an 
unhappy liberty when he applied it in a 
scientific sense to some birds of the New 
World of which the same could be said. 
These are now held to constitute a distinct 
Family, Icteridex ; and, while many of them 
bear the vulgar name of Troopials (the English 
equivalent of the French Troupiales, first used 
by Brisson), others are known as the American 
GRACKLES. The typical species of Jcterus is 
the Oriolus icterus of Linneus, the Icterus 
vulgaris of Daudin and modern ornithologists, 
an inhabitant of northern Brazil, Guiana, 
Venezuela, which seems to have been intro- 
duced into some of the Antilles, and occa- 
sionally, it is said, visits the United States. 
Thirty-eight species of the genus Jcferus alone, and ninety others 
belonging to 28 genera, are recognized by Mr. Sclater (Cat. Bb. Br. 
Mus. xi. pp. 308-405), most of them belonging to the Neotropical 
Region, though a few have their home to the northward, whither 
they repair to breed in summer. It would be impossible here to 
dwell upon them, but Hucorystes, Cassicus and Ageleus may perhaps be 
named as the most remarkable. They are nearly all gregarious 
birds, many of them with loud and melodious notes, rendering them 
IctERUS. (After Swainson.) 
AGELEUS. (After Swainson.) STURNELLA, 
favourites in captivity, for they readily learn to whistle simple tunes, 
which are admirably reproduced by their clear voice. Some have 
a plumage wholly black, others are richly clad, as is the well-known 
Baltimore Oriole, Golden Robin, or Hangnest of the United States, 
