of the United States. 49 



sharp : nostrils basal, partly covered : tongue not elongated 

 nor extensible, bifid or emarginate at tip. Fekt robust; 

 tarsi annulated, naked, inner toe free; hind toe more or less 

 elongated, thick ; nails compressed, acute. Wings moderate, 

 or but little elongated ; primaries acute at tip. 



Omnivorous. Gregarious, at least for a part of the year ; 

 live in forests, but chiefly meadows and fields ; alight equally 

 on trees and on the ground. Build in trees, some also on 

 cliffs and in houses. Flesh generally hard, unpalatable. Voice 

 harsh and unpleasant. Plumage of several eminently dis- 

 tinguished by colour and texture. For the most part easily 

 tamed and taught to articulate words. 



GREG.4RII 



Bill conic-elongated, entire, forming a sinus in the front 

 feathers. Outer and middle toes united at base. Tail of 

 twelve feathers. 



8. STURNUS. 



Sturnus, L. Rriss. Gm. Lath. 111. Cuv. Temm. 



Sturnus, Sturnella, Vieill. Stumus, AmbJyramphus, Leach. 



Bill conic-subulate, depressed, rather obtuse at tip; mar- 

 gins vertical ; upper mandible somewhat rounded above ; 

 lower a little shorter, narrow, compressed : hardly ascending, 

 nostrils oval-elongated, half closed by an arched membrane : 

 tongue cartilaginous, depressed, narrowed, acute and bifid at 

 tip. Tarsus subequal to the middle toe ; outer hardly longer 

 than the inner; hind toe stoutest: hind nail longest and largest. 



Female hardly distinct. Young differing from the adult. 

 Colours more brilliant in spring, though the moult is annual. 



Feed chiefly on insects which they seek in fields and mea- 

 dows, principally on the ground: some species follow the path 

 of oxen and sheep with this view, and often aHght on their 

 backs. Build in holes of trees, houses, &c. and the Ameri- 

 can species in tufts of grass. 



