154 



ICTERIDiE, AMERICAN STARLINGS. GEN. 87. 



gnishes them from all our other families whatsoever ; but the distinctions from the 

 Fringillidce are not easil}' expressed. In fact, I know of no character that, for 

 example, will relegate the bobolink and cowbird to the Icteridce rather than to the 

 Fringillidce, in the current acceptation of these terms. In general, however, the 

 Icteridce are distinguished bj' the length, acuteness and not strictly conical shape of 

 the unnotched, unbristled bill, that shows a peculiar extension of the culmen on the 

 forehead, dividing the prominent antiffi (p. 29, § 62) of close-set, velvety feathers 

 that reach to or on the nasal scale. 



Among our comparatively few species are representatives of each of the three 

 subfamilies into which the group is conveniently and probably naturally divisible. 

 In most of them, black is predominant, either uniform and of intense metallic lustre, 

 or contrasted with masses of red or j'cllow. In nearly all, the sexes are conspic- 

 uously dissimilar, the female being smaller, and plain brownish or streaky in the 

 iridescent black species, olivaceous or yellowish in the brilliantly colored ones. 

 All are migratory in this country. 



Sithfcmiily AGELjEIN^. Marsh Blackbirds. 



Gregarious, gi-anivorous species, more or less completely terrestrial, and chiefly 

 palustrine, not ordinarily conspicuous vocalists, building rather rude, not pensile, 

 nests, laying 4-6 spotted or curiously limned eggs. With the feet strong, fitted 

 both for walking and for grasping swaying reeds, the wings more or less pointed, 

 equalling or exceeding the tail in length, the bill conic-acute, shorter or little longer 

 than the head, its cutting edges more or less inflected. *** In gen. 87, 91, the 

 tail feathers are acute ; in 91, the wing is unusually rounded for this family ; in 87, 

 88, the bill has an ordinary fringilline character. 



^y 



U' 



U 



Boholinh 

 ern States. 



87. Genus DOLICHONYX Swainson. 



Northern States. i?eedi«VcZ,- Middle States. liicehird; South- 

 (J , in spring: black; cervix buff; scapulars, rump and upper 

 tail coverts ashy white ; interscapulars strealted with black, buff and ash}' ; 

 outer quills edged with yellowish ; bill blackish horn ; feet 

 brown. $ in fall, $ and young, entire]}' different in color ; 

 yellowish-brown above, brownish-yellow below, crown and 

 back consiiicuously, nape, rump and sides less broadly, 

 streaked with black ; crown with a median and lateral light 

 stripe; wings and tail blackish, pale-edged; bill brown. 

 The $ changing shows confused characters of both sexes ; 

 )ut in any plumage the species may be recognized by the 

 stiiEsh, extremely acute tail feathers, in counection with 

 these dimensions; length 6|-7^ ; wing 3^-4; tail 2^-3; 

 tarms about 1; middle toe and claw about \\. Eastern 

 United States, very abundant. In its black livery, only worn for a short 

 time, the "bobolink" is dispersed over the meadows of the Northern States 

 to breed, and is a voluble, spirited songster. After the midsummer change, 

 the "reedbird" or "ricebird" throngs the marshes in immense flocks, with 

 the Mackbii'ds ; has simply a chirping note, feeds on the wild oats, becomes 

 extremely fat and is accounted a great delicacy. The name "ortolan," 



"I IN A 



