306 



XORTir AMERICAN "niRDS. 



Subfamily ICTERIAN^. 

 Sect.on ICTERIE/E. 



In this section there are two Aniericiiu oeiiera ; one found in the United 

 States, the otlier not. Tlie diagnoses are as I'olknvs : 



Sizo large (about 8 inclK's). Lower jaw not deeper than u|)pei- anterior to nostrils. 

 ^ Tail moderate. Partly yellow l)eneatli, olive-green above .... Jcferia 

 Size smaller (about G inelie.^;. Lower jaw tleeper than upper. Tail almost fan- 

 shaped. Partly red beneath, plumbeous-blue above .... GruimteUus} 



Genus ICTBRIA, Vieill. 



Ictcrm, ViElLLoT, Ois. Am. Sept. I, lso7, iii and 85. 

 Turdus vireiis, Linn.) 



(Type, Miisciciipa viridis. t!M. 



Gkn. Ciiak. Bill broad at base, but contracting rapidly and becoming attenuated when 



I- --_ viewed from iibove ; high at the base 



(higher than broad opposite the nostrils) ; 

 the eulmen and coninii.ssure much curved 

 from ba.se; the gony.s stra'ght. TT])per jaw 

 deeper than the loi'cr: bill without notch 

 or rictal l)ristle.<. Nostrils circular, edged 

 above with membrane, the feathers clo-so 

 to their borders. Wings shorter than tail. 

 con.«iderably rounded ; (irst quill rather 

 shorter than the si.xth. Tail moderately 

 graduated ; the feathers rounded, but nar- 

 row. .Middle toe without claw about 

 two thirds the length of tarsus, which has 



Icteria virens. 



the scutellaB fused externally in part into one plate. 



The precise .systematic position of the genus Ictcria'is a matter of mucli 

 contrariety of opinion among ornitliologists ; Imt we have little iiositation in 

 including it among tlie Si/hia,lida: It litis been most freciuently assigned 

 to the Virconida; hut differs essentially in the deeply cleft inner toe (not 

 half united as in Virco), the partially booted tarsi, the lengthened middle 

 toe, the slightly curved claws, the entire iibsence of notch or hook in the bill, 

 and the short, rounded wing with oidy nine primaries. The wing of Vlrco, 

 when much rounded, has ten primaries, — nine only being met with when 

 the wing is very long and pointed. 



Of this genus only one species is known Hhough two races are recog- 

 nized by naturalists, differing in the length ( tin; tail. 



» OrannMlm, DlTnirs. Baird, R(!v. Am. Uii<l.s, hSiiS, 2;i(). (Type, O. tnnistm, DuBUS.) 



