278 AVES : PASSERES. — XLVI. 



are as closely related to SturnidcB (starlings), which in turn are 

 allied to the Coroidce. 



u. Outlines of bill nearly or quite straight, the tip not evidently decurved; 

 the commissure not sinuated. (Icterlme.) 

 b. Bill stout, conical; its depth at base at least J its length; sexes unlike; 

 $ smaller. 

 c. Tail feathers acute ; middle toe with claw longer than tarsus; bill 



shorter than head, finch-like Dolichonyx, 463. 



cc. Tail feathers not acute; middle toe with claw not longer than tarsus. 

 d.'BiW much shorter than head, finch-like. . . . Molothkus, 464. 

 dd. Bill about as long as head. 

 6. Lateral claws elongate, reaching beyond base of middle claw. 



Xanthocephalus, 465. 

 ee. Lateral claws shortish, scarcely reaching base of middle claw. 



Agelaius, 466. 

 ib. Bill slender, its depth at base scarcely J its length. 



f. Tail not | length of wing, its feathers acute; tertials lengthened ; 



bill longer than head; feathers of crown each tipped by the 



bristle-like shaft ; sexes similar. . . . Sturnklla, 467. 



ff. Tail nearly as long as wing, its feathers not pointed ; bill 



shorter than head ; feathers of crown not bristle-tipped ; sexes 



unlike Icterus, 468. 



ao. Outlines of bill distinctly curved, the tip decurved; the commissure evi- 

 dently sinuated. ( UuiscaKiue.) 

 g. Tail much shorter than wing, nearly even ; bill slender, shorter 



than head Scolecophagus, 469. 



gg. Tail longer than wing, graduated, the middle feathers lower- 

 most when the tail is folded; bill stout, not shorter than head. 



Quiscalus, 470. 



463. DOLICHONTX Swainson. (SoXip^dr, long ; 3jt)|, claw.) 



880. D. oryzivorus (L.). Bobolink. Reed Bird. Rice 

 Bird. ^ in spring black, neck buffy, shoulders and rump ashy 

 white, back streaky; 9i ^nd fall $, yellowish brown, streaked 

 above, — dull yellowish birds, resembling sparrows, but known by 

 the acute tail feathers. L. 1\. W. 4. T. 3. E. N. Am., abun- 

 dant in meadows northward, where, in the breeding season, it is 

 our merriest and most delightful songster. Retiring southward in 

 the fall, it fattens in the rice swamps and becomes a " game bird," 

 slaughtered by the thousand for city markets. (Lat., oryza, rice ; 

 voro, I devour.) 



464. MOLOTHRUS Swainson. (fio\o6p6s, vagabond.) 



881. M. ater (Boddaert). Cow Bird. ^ iridescent black, head 

 and neck glossy brown ; 9 much smaller, dusky brown. L. ( (J) 8. 

 W. 4. T. 3. U. S., abundant; noted for its parasitic habits. It 

 builds no nests, but lays its eggs in the nests of warblers and other 

 small birds. (Lat., black.) 



