LAND-BIRD.S. 



Family Icteridae : Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. Page 165. 



8 Species. 



Forming a link between the Finch and Crow families and 

 containing, beside Blackbirds and Orioles, the Meadowlark, 

 Bobolink, and Cowbird. Sexes unlike. All species but the 

 Orioles have large, muscular feet adapted to walking, and 

 feed on or near the ground. They are both seed and insect 

 eaters, and vary much in size and colour. The predominat- 

 ing hues are black, white, orange-red, and what Dr. Coues 

 calls a "niggled pattern" of brown in the Meadowlark. 

 Musically the species are divided, half being highly vocal 

 and half casually so. 



Family Corvidae : Crows, Jays, etc. Page 177. 



3 Species. 



The Crows are large black birds, having bills as long 

 as the head, stout feet suitable for walking, pointed wings 

 longer than the tail, appearing saw-toothed in flight. Gre- 

 garious ; sexes alike. The Jays are a great contrast to the 

 Crows, being crested and having conspicuous plumage in 

 which blue predominates. Both Crows and Jays are partly 

 carnivorous, and though having harsh voices, moderate them 

 to a not unpleasing song in the breeding season. 



Family Alaudidaa : Larks. Page 180. 



1 Species. 



True Larks, kin of the European Skylark, and not to be 

 confused with Meadowlarks or Titlarks. Our species, a 

 Shore Lark, seen here only in the fall and winter, is highly 

 musical in the breeding-season. It has very long, straight 

 hind claws, long, pointed wings, and two slender, feathered 

 ear tufts that give it the name of Horned Lark. 



SUB-ORDER CLAMATORES: SONGLESS PERCHING BIRDS. 



Birds with but poorly developed singing apparatus, the 

 vocal muscles being either small or few. 

 47 



