354 ZOOLOGY. 
head, capable of being erected. It is frequently brought from India living, 
and can be taught to articulate words with great exactness. 
The African beef-eater, Buphaga africana (pl. 99, fig. 14), is arranged 
here. It is a plain-plumaged little bird, only remarkable for the fact that 
it follows herds of buffaloes and other animals for the purpose of preying 
upon the larve of insects which infest. them, for which purpose it alights 
—— their backs. 
sub-fam. 3. Sturnine, or Starlings. Bill rather long, frequently eee 
sometimes curved; wings moderate, sometimes rather long; tail short; 
tarsi and feet long, robust. Size various, frequently small. 
An assemblage of about fifty species of birds which are distributed 
throughout the marie of the globe. The common starling of Europe, 
Sturnus vulgaris (pl. 100, fig. 1), lives in the fields, having apparently a 
partiality for marshy or wet places. It walks on the ground in search of 
its food, which consists of seeds, worms, and insects. There are several 
birds of this sub-family, which are abundant in Asia and Africa, one of 
which visits the South of Europe. It is the rose-colored starling, Pastor 
roseus (pl. 100, fig. 11), one of the most beautiful of this family, having the 
entire plumage of a delicate rose red, except the head and crest, which are 
shining black. 
The American larks belong here. The well known species, Sturnella’ 
ludoviciana (pl. 99, jig. 15), frequents every pasture field and meadow 
to a greater or less extent throughout the United States. It lives almost 
‘entirely on the ground, and constructs a very ingenious oven-shaped 
nest. 
There are two other species very nearly related to the common bird, 
one of which (S. neglecta) is found in the Rocky Mountains and the 
country westward, the other (S. hippocrepis) inhabits Mexico. <A beau- 
tiful species (S. militaris) is found in South America, which considerably 
resembles the common lark, except that instead of the yellow under surface 
of the body it has those parts very handsome of a reddish pink color. 
Sub-fam. 4. Quiscaline, or American Grakles. Bill lengthened, curved ; 
wings moderate, pointed; tail lengthened, graduated, with the sides fre- 
quently curved upwards; tarsi and feet long and robust. Size various; 
color black. 
This sub-family contains about twenty birds, which are strictly confined 
to America. They are generally seen in immense flocks migrating north- 
wards or southwards according to the season. The purple grakle (Quis- 
calus versicolor), or crow blackbird, is the largest of the species found as 
far north as Pennsylvania. The rusty grakle (Q. ferrugineus) is equally 
abundant. 
There are about a dozen species of Moxies and South America which 
more or less resemble the last named bird. 
Sub-fam. 5. Icterine, or American Orioles. Bill rather long, straight ; 
wings long, pointed ; tail generally rather long; tarsi and feet moderate, or 
sometimes long. Size various; colors gay, frequently orange or other 
yellow, and black. 
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