50 Synopsis of the Birds 



Found in all parts of the globe : not numerous in species : 

 arranged in several families by different authors. 



SUBGENUS STURNELLA. 



Sturnella, Vieill. Sturnus, Alauda, Auct. Cassicus, Daud. 



Frontal sinus deep, rounded. Hind toe as long as the 

 middle one, much longer and stouter than the lateral. Wings 

 rather short, somewhat rounded ; no spurious feather ; first 

 and fifth primaries subequal ; second, third, and fourth 

 longest : two of the secondaries much elongated. 



Peculiar to America. Connecting Sturnus with Icterus 

 by the subgenus Cassicus : somewhat allied to Alauda (family 

 Passerini.) 



48. Sturnus ludovicianus, L». Beneath, and line over the eye 

 yellow ; a black pectoral crescent ; four lateral tail feathers 

 white. 



Meadow Lark, Alauda magna, fVils. Am. Orn. in. p. 20. 

 pi. 19- fg> 2. 



Inhabits meadows and fields throughout the Union : com- 

 mon. 



9. ICTERUS. 



Icterus, Briss. Daud. Temm. Ranz. Oriolus, Tanagra. 

 L. Gm. Lath. Xanthornus, Pallas. Xanthornus, Icterus, 

 Lacep. Oriolus, Cassicus, III. Cassicus, Cuv. Pendulinus, 

 Yphantes, Agelaius, Cassicus, Passerina, Vieill. 



Bill conic-subulate, compressed, rarely a little curved, 

 rounded above, very acute ; margins inflexed, those of the 

 lower mandible angular near the base : nostrils oval, covered 

 by a membrane : tongue cartilaginous, acute and bifid at tip. 

 Tarsus rather longer than the middle toe ; inner toe but 

 little shorter than the outer, and nearly equal to the hind one ; 

 middle toe longest ; hind nail twice as large as the others. 

 Wings sub-acuminate; first primary but little shorter than the 

 third and fourth, which are longest. 



