ICTERIDEH, AMERICAN STARLINGS.—GEN. 91, 92. 157 
91. Genus STURNELLA Vieillot. 
*,* Plumage highly variegated ; each feather of the back blackish, with a terminal 
reddish-brown area, and sharp brownish-yellow borders ; neck similar, the pattern 
smaller; crown streaked with black and brown, and with a pale median and super- 
ciliary stripe; a blackish line behind eye; several lateral tail feathers white, the 
others, with the inner quills and wing covyerts, barred or scalloped with black, and 
brown or gray. Edge of wing, spot over eye, and under parts generally, bright 
yellow, the sides and crissum flaxen-brown, with numerous sharp blackish streaks, 
the breast with a large black crescent (obscure in the young) ; bill horn color, of 
peculiar shape; feet light brown, very large and strong, reaching beyond the very 
short tail. Length 10-11; wing 5; tail 34; bill4; @ smaller (91; wing 41; tail 
3), similar in color; young not particularly different. 
Fieldlark. (Puate vi, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, la, 2a, 3a, 4a.) The colors, as 
above described, rich and pure, the prevailing aspect brown; yellow of chin 
usually confined between rami 
of under mandible; black bars 
on wings and tail usually con- 
fluent along the shaft of the 
feathers, leaving the gray in 
scallops. . Eastern United 
States, everywhere abundant 
in open country; imperfectly 
migratory ; partially gregari- 
ous when not breeding; 
strictly terrestrial; an agreeable vocalist; nest of dried grass, on the 
ground, eggs 4-6, white, speckled with reddish. Wuus., iii, 20, pl. 19; 
PAOD 1s C0; pl. 223) Nurs ty AdsebD.; 0008. =. 5 . . . MAGNA. 
Fic. 99. Fieldlark. 
ay Var. NecLecTA. The colors duller and paler, the prevailing aspect gray ; yellow 
of chin usually mounting on sides of lower jaw; black on wings and tail usually 
resolved into distinct bars alternating with gray bars. Western U. 8. Song 
said to be different. Aun., vii, 339, pl. 487; Bp., 537; Coop., 270. 
Oxs. It does not appear that the Red-breasted Lark, Trupialis militaris, was 
ever taken in this country. It is a South American species resembling ours, but 
with red in place of the yellow. Bop., 533. 
Subfamily ICTERIN_A. Orioles. 
Non-gregarious, insectivorous and frugivorous species, strictly arboricole, of 
brilliant or strikingly contrasted colors, and pleasing song, distinguished as archi- 
tects, building elaborately woven pensile nests. With the bill relatively longer, 
slenderer and more acute than in most of the last subfamily, and the feet weaker, 
exclusively fitted for perching. Three of our species are abundant migratory birds 
in summer; the rest merely reach our southern border from tropical America. 
' 
92, Genus ICTERUS Brisson. 
* The ¢ black and chestnut. 
Orchard Oriole.  & black, lower back, rump, lesser wing coverts and 
