ICTERID.E — tup: ORIOLES. 



171 



usually, iVoni five to six ej^os. TIr'sl' aro of an ohlong-oval shape, and 

 measure 1.02 inches in len-,'th l)y .7(1 of an inch in breadth. Their <,n-ound- 

 color is of a pale greenish-wliitc, i)n)fusely covered with bhjtches and finer 

 dottings of drab, purplish-brown, and undier. 



Gents STURNELLA, Vieii.lot. 



Stiiniclla, VlKlLLor, Analyse, UslU. (Tyi)t', Alumlii miKjnn, L.) 



Gen. Char. Body thick, stout ; legs large, too.s reaeliing Ix-vond the tail. Tail short, 

 even, with narrow acuminate feathers. Bill .slender, elongated ; length about three times 



Sntrtiftln ma^im. 



the height; commissure straight from the Imsal angle. Culmen flattened basally, ex- 

 tending backwards and paiting the frontal feathers; longer than the head, but shorter 

 than tarsus. Nostrils linear, covered by an incumbent membraiious scale. Inner lateral 

 toe longer than the onlci', 

 but not reaching to basal 

 joint of middle ; hind toe a 

 little .shorter than the middle, 

 which is equal to the tarsus. 

 Ilind claw nearly twice as 

 long as the middle. Feathers 

 of head stiU'ened and bristly; 

 tile .shafts of tliiise above 

 extended into i black seta. 

 Tertials nearly equal to the 

 primaries. Feathers above all 

 transversely banded. Be- 

 neath yellow, with a black 

 pectoial crescent. 



The only species which we can admit is the »S'. ma;/na, though under this 

 name we group several geographical races. They may be distinguished as 

 follows : — 



