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PERCHING BIRDS. 



especially the backward prolongation of the hinder extremity of the lower 

 mandible, the large assemblage of American birds known as cassiques and hang- 

 nests may be regarded as the New World representatives of the starlings of the 

 Old World, although, so far as habits are concerned, it does not appear that there 

 is any very marked structural affinity between the two families. Distinguished by 

 the length and slenderness of the beak, which in most cases equals the head in 



CRESTED CASSIQUE (f nat. size). 



length, these birds generally possess pointed wings, which have never more than 

 nine primaries; they have strong feet, and chiefly black plumage. Among the 

 numerous genera only a few can be selected for notice. Congregating in flocks, 

 after the manner of starlings, many of these birds build the long, pendent, bottle- 

 like nests, from which the name of the family is derived. The family may 

 be divided into three groups, the first comprising the rice-birds and cow-birds, the 

 second the true hangnests, and the third the troupials ; the characters of which 

 are pointed out below. 



