GRACULIXJ2. THREMMAPHILUS. 115 



second slightly shorter ; tail of moderate length, of twelve 

 feathers. 



These birds, which are chiefly resident in the warmer 

 regions of Asia and Africa, scarcely differ in the structure 

 of the skeleton and digestive organs from the Crows. They 

 are generally gregarious, feed on worms, larvse, insects, 

 and fruits, and breed in high places, or in holes and cre- 

 vices. They are easily domesticated, may be taught to 

 pronounce words, and to whistle tunes, most of them ha- 

 ving naturally a modulated voice, and some being remark- 

 able for their vocal powers. 



GENUS XXXIII. THREMMAPHILUS. COWBIRD. 



Bill of moderate length, or rather short, moderately stout, 

 nearly straight, compressed toward the end ; upper mandible 

 with its dorsal line slightly declinate and convex, the ridge 

 narrow at the base, the edges sharp, with a slight notch close 

 to the slightly decurved tip ; lower mandible with the angle 

 long, the crura rather broad, the dorsal line straight, the 

 edges sharp, the tip acute ; gape-line ascending at the base, 

 then direct. Eyes rather small ; lower eyelid bare. Nos- 

 trils elliptical, oblique, open, with an arched horny opercu- 

 lum. Aperture of ear roundish, of moderate size. Head 

 oblong ; neck short ; body moderate ; feet rather stout ; tar- 

 sus shortish, compressed, with seven anterior scutella, thin- 

 edged behind ; first toe stouter, second 'and fourth about 

 equal ; claws rather long, stout, moderately arched, com- 

 pressed, obscurely grooved, acute. Plumage moderate ; fea- 

 thers on nasal groove very narrow, pointed, recurved ; wings 

 of moderate length, rather pointed, the first quill extremely 

 small, being about a sixth of the length of the second, which 

 is little shorter than the third ; tail moderate, or rather short, 

 slightly rounded. 



The birds of this genus, which is peculiar to the Old Con- 

 tinent, are closely allied to the Starlings and Thrushes, in- 

 somuch that the only species which occurs in Britain has 

 been referred by some to Sturnus, by others to Turdus. 



