on the American Starlings. 169


ing of the Weaver-birds and, as in the true Weavers, are smaller

than the males.


Molothrus, though very like typical Agelceus in the finch¬

like character of its beak, does not show similar characteristic

differences in the sexes; but it is probable that its parasitic

habits may in the course of time have effected this modification

from the Weaver-like type of colouring, which was doubtless

originally designed to conceal frequenters of rushes, reeds,,

cereals, and coarse grasses, as with many of the Warblers. It

may be questioned, if Subfamilies are to be based upon the

possession of a distinct winter plumage, whether Dolichonyx

should not be regarded as the type of a distinct group under the

title of Dolichonicince; but in spite of the very different colour¬

ing, Leistes seems to me to run it so close in the triangular finch¬

like character of its beak, the eyebrow streak of the female (and

of the male in winter), and the pale bordered black feathering of

the upper parts, that I can hardly think such a sub-division of

the Icteridce is desirable when one considers how little Dolichonyx

differs from Leistes in its nesting-habits.


The Bobolink is said to nest by preference in oat-fields

near to the water, the structure being frail, composed of dry

weed-stems and grasses, and lined with finer materials of the

same kind ; usually it is placed in a slight depression in the

ground, but sometimes it is attached to several weed-stems a

little distance from the ground. The Red-breasted Marsh-bird

forms its nest of dry grasses and fastens it to the upright stems

of an aquatic plant three or four feet above the water. The

difference in habit therefore is no greater than in the case of

some of the allied English Warblers ; and though there is a

greater difference in the eggs, we often find quite as remarkable

differences in species of the same genus, as for instance in Tiirdus

musicus and T. iliac 7 is.


So far as I can discover, the only reason for placing the

Icteridce next to the Tajiagridce was—that the Ccerebidce, Tanagridce

and Icteridce were regarded as nine-primaried Oscines, restricted

to the New World (cf. Catalogue of Birds, Vol. XI., Introduction,

p. VIII.), but Professor Ridgway has recently proposed to transfer

some of the Tanegridce to the Fringillidce, one to the Mimidce y



