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FAMILY XVII.— STURNIN^E. STARLINGS. 



Bill nearly as long as the head, moderately stout, or rather slender, nearly 

 straight, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its outline straight, 

 slightly convex toward the tip, the ridge somewhat flattened, the sides 

 sloping and convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a very slight or 

 obsolete notch, close to the depressed tip; lower mandible with the angle 

 long and rather acute, the crura rather broad and flat at the base, the dorsal 

 line straight, the edges sharp, the tip slender; gap-line ascending gently at 

 the base, then direct. Head ovate or oblong, flattened above; neck of mode- 

 rate length; body rather full. Feet moderately stout; tarsus rather short, 

 compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes moderate, or rather long, the 

 first stouter, the lateral toes equal, the outer adherent at the base. Claws 

 rather long, moderately arched, compressed, acute. Plumage rather com- 

 pact. Wings of moderate length, with the first quill very small, the third 

 and fourth longest. Tail short or of moderate length, rounded, and generally 

 emarginate. Roof of upper mandible with a median ridge; tongue slender, 

 thin-edged, with the tip slit and lacerated; oesophagus without dilatation; 

 stomach roundish, its muscular coat rather thin, the epithelium dense, and 

 longitudinally rugous; intestine of moderate length and width; coeca very 

 small, cylindrical; cloaca ovate or oblong. Trachea simple, with four pairs 

 of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, or in cavities; eggs 

 about five. 



Genus I.— STURNELLA, Vieill. MEADOW STARLING. 



Bill rather long, almost straight, conico-subulate, depressed toward the 

 end; upper mandible with the ridge somewhat flattened, the edges sharp and 

 overlapping; the tip narrow, but rounded; lower mandible with the outline 

 straight, the ridge convex, the sides ascending; the tip slightly rounded. 

 Nostrils oval, with an arched membrane above. Head of ordinary size, 

 depressed; neck of moderate length; body rather full. Feet of moderate 

 length, strong; tarsus distinctly scutellate; lateral toes nearly equal, hind toe 



