ICTERIB^ — ICTEBIN2E : ORIOLES. 407 



rately woven pensile nests. With the bill relatively longer, as well as slenderer and more acute 



than in most of the IcteridtBj the feet weaker, exclusively fitted for perching. Three of our 



species are migratory birds, abundant in summer ; the rest merely reach our southern border 



from tropical America. 



103. ICTERUS. (Gr. iKrepos, ikteros, Lat. icterus, yellow. 



Fig. 262.) Orioles. Our single genus of the sub- >'— x 



family : characters practically the same. BUI averaging \^ 



as long as head (more or less) ; very acute, sometimes 



decurved. Feet fitted for perching, not for walking; 



tarsus not longer than middle toe and claw. Lateral 



toes, if not of equal lengths, outer longest (the rule in 



FringilUdcB; in leteridce the reverse). Wings usually 



•.jj • li/i T._iii.\ Fig. 262. — Bill of an Oriole, 



pomted and averaging equal to (longer or shorter than) 



the rounded or graduated taU. A large and beautiful genus, the species of which vary much 

 in details of form, but are not easily divided otherwise than specifically. The colors are strik- 

 ing ; the males black with orange or yellow, usually also with white ; in one species, black 

 and chestnut. The sexes very unlike. The $ ? of several species closely resemble one 

 another, though the ^ <? are very difierent. Two Eastern species ; one Western ; the rest 

 Southwestern. 



Analysis of Species. 



The (f black and chestnut : spwius, affinis. 

 The (f black and orange : galbulGf bullocH, cucullatus. 

 The <f black and clear yellow : paHsorum, aiidnhom, vulgaris. 

 Feathers of throat soft and normal. 



(f black and chestnut ; $ olivaceous and yellowish. Length 7.00 or less apwriua 324, 325 



tj black and orange, or flame-color. 

 Tail rounded, not longer than wings. 



(;f head and neck all around black ; white on wings in bars galbula 326 



cf crown and throat black, sides of head orange. White patch on wings .... bullocJci 327 

 Tail graduated ; outer feathers an inch shorter than middle ones ; longer than wings. 



J head orange, with black mask cucnllaius 328 



(? black and pure yellow. 



cf head, neck, breast and back black. Sexes unlike; length about 8.00 pcurisorwm 329 



c? 9 head, neck, and breast black ; body yellow, greenish on back ; length about 9.00 auduboni 330 

 Feathers of throat elongate and lanceolate. Sexes alike. Length about 10.00^ 



(f 9 Black and yellow, with white on wings vulgaHs 323 



3S3. I. vulga'rls. (Lat. vulgaris, vulgar, common.) Troupial. Bill acute, attenuated, elongate, 

 and somewhat decurved. Throat-feathers lengthened, loosened, and lanceolate. Bare space 

 around eye. Adult $ 9 : Head and neek all around, fore breast, isolated dorsal area, wings 

 and tail, black. Rump, upper tail-ooverts, cervical collar, and under parts of the breast, rich 

 yellow. Wings with white patch on coverts and much white edging of secondaries. Large : 

 length about 10.00 ; wing and tail 4.50 ; bill over 1.00. A common and well-known species 

 of Tropical America, said to have strayed to the Southern States. No late cases of so doing. 

 (The species would be better enumerated next after No. 330.) 



324. I- spu'rius. (Lat. spitrius, spurious; the species was formerly called "bastard Baltimore 

 oriole," whence the undeserved name.) Orchard Oriole. Adult ^ : Black and chestnut. 

 Head and neck all around, fore breast and back, black. Rump and upper tail-coverts, lesser 

 and under wing-coverts, and whole under-parts from the breast, chestnut or chocolate-brown. 

 Wings and tail black, former except as said, and some white or whitish edging of the quills 

 and tipping of the greater coverts, the latter forming a wing-bar ; outer tail-feathers sometimes 

 with a touch of chestnut. Bill and feet blue-black. Length about 7.00 ; extent about 10.00 ; 

 wing 3.00-3.25 ; tail nearly as long, much rounded, its graduation nearly 0.50 ; bill 0.70 along 

 culmeu, very slender and acute, somewhat decurved ; tarsus 0.90. 9 > adult : Smaller than tho 



