120 ORIOLINJE. ORIOLUS. 



being very similar ; and, therefore, it will suffice to give 

 their principal characters, especially as we have very few 

 species of most of them. 



FAMILY XIV. ORIOLIN.E. ORIOLINE 

 BIRDS, OR ORIOLES. 



Bill rather long, stout, nearly straight, rather broad at 

 the base, compressed toward the end ; upper mandible 

 with the dorsal line slightly arched, the ridge narrow, the 

 edges sharp, with a slight notch close to the small deflect- 

 ed tip ; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, 

 the sides nearly erect, the edges sharp, the dorsal line 

 nearly straight, the tip acute. Mouth of moderate width ; 

 tongue slender, emarginate and papillate at the base, thin 

 and horny toward the tip, which is bifid. Nostrils oblong. 

 Head oblong, of moderate size ; neck rather short. Tar- 

 sus short, or moderate, compressed, with seven anterior 

 scutella ; toes of moderate size, with large scutella, the 

 first stout, the fourth a little longer than the second, and 

 united at the base to the third ; claws of moderate length, 

 arched, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage 

 generally blended ; short bristles ; wings rather long, the 

 first quill scarcely half the length of the third, which is 

 longest ; tail rather long, straight, slightly rounded. 



The Oriolinse belong to the warmer regions of the Old 

 Continent. 



GENUS XXXV. ORIOLUS. ORIOLE. 



Bill rather long, stout, nearly straight, as broad as high at 

 the base ; upper mandible with the ridge narrow, the sides 

 sloping at the base. Tarsus short, compressed, with seven 

 distinct scutella ; toes of moderate size, the anterior little 

 spreading, being united at the base ; claws of ordinary length, 

 arched, acute. Wings rather long, the first quill short, the 

 third and fourth longest ; tail of moderate length, straight, 

 rounded. 



