INSESSORES : ICTERID.E. 



ICTERID^E, OR BLACKBIRD FAMILY. This Family com- 

 prises birds with a long bill, nine primaries, tail rather 

 long and rounded, the legs stout, the basal joint of the 

 middle toe free on the inner side, and united half-way on 

 the outer. 



The Genus Ploceus comprises the Weavers of Africa 

 and India, celebrated for their curious nests woven of 

 grass. Some species, like the Republican, Loxia soda, 

 Lath., unite by hundreds, and construct a roof, beneath 

 which they build their nests, each being separate and 

 entered from below. The nest of others is a suspended 

 sphere, from which, in some cases, there hangs down a 

 long tube loosely woven of grass. 



The Genus Dolichonyx has the middle toe very long, 

 and the tail feathers with rigid acuminate points. 



The Bobolink, Reed-bird, or Rice-bird, D. oryzivorus, 

 Sw., of North America east of the Central Plains, is seven 

 and seven tenths inches Fig. 123. 



long, the wing less than 

 four inches ; the general 

 color black, beautifully 

 marked with cream-color 

 and white. The female 

 is yellowish beneath, the 

 feathers above dark brown 

 edged with brownish yel- 

 low. Late in the sum- 

 mer the male assumes the 

 colors of the female. Dur- Bobolink, D. 



ing summer this beautiful bird is seen in every meadow, 

 and its jingling song is heard throughout a great part of 

 the day. This is frequently uttered while on the wing. 

 The nest is built on the ground, and composed of grass ; 

 eggs four to six, white tinged with dull blue, and spotted 

 with blackish. Late in the summer, these birds are seen 



