Order IT. PASSERES. 
Tribe IV, Conirostres, 
Family III, Sturnid^, 
The fifth Subfamily, 
QUISCALIN^, or Boat-tails, 
have the Bill lengthened, with, the culmen straight, and slightly curved at the tip ; the Nostrils basal, 
lateral, placed in a triangular groove ; the Wings moderate and pointed ; the Tail lengthened and 
graduated, with the sides generally curved upwards; the Tarsi and Toes long, strong, and much 
scutellated ; the hind toe long, and armed with a strong curved claw, 
SCOLECOPHAGUS Sii'ctins.* 
Bill moderate, straight, and slender, the sides compressed, and the lateral margins inflexed, but not 
sinuated ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and partly covered by a membrane. Wings moderate and pointed, 
with the first quill shorter than the second, third, and fourth, which are the longest. Tail moderate, 
flat, and slightly rounded. Tarsi of equal length with the middle toe, covered with broad scutellations. 
Toes long and slender ; the lateral ones nearly equal ; the hind toe long ; and the claws slender, acute, 
and slightly curved. 
These migratory birds are found in various parts of North and Central America. They appear during the short 
summer months in the neighbourhood of Hudson's Bay, searching the ground for their food, which at that time consists 
of worms and insects. As the winter approaches, they gather into lai'ge flocks and retm-n to the southern parts, 
frequenting the corn fields, rice plantations, and wherever Indian corn is to be procured in their progress ; and, as soon 
as spring commences, they return to the north for the simamer months again. The nest is built in the lower branch of 
a tree, and is composed of moss and grass. The eggs ai'e generally five in number. 
1. S. ferrugineus fWils.) Swains. Wils. Amer. Ornith. pi. 21. bradorius Gmel. ; Pendulinus ater Vieill. ; Oriolus leucocephalus 
f.3. — Gracula quiscala var. /> Lnth. ; Chalcophanes virescens Lath. 
Wagl. ; Oriolus niger, Turdus hudsonicus, T. noveboracensis, T. la- 2. S. mexicanus Swains. Two Cent, and a Quart. 302. 
QuiscALUs Vieill. f 
Bill long, broad at the base, with the culmen advancing on the forehead in a point, and curved to the 
tip, Avhich overhangs that of the lower mandible ; the nostrils basal, oval, and half-closed by a membrane. 
Wings moderate, with the second, third, and fourth quills the longest. Tail long, graduated, and the 
sides turned upwards. Taj^si as long as the middle toe, strong, and greatly scutellated. Toes long, 
strong, and much scutellated, with the lateral ones nearly equal ; the hind toe long and strong ; the 
claws short, strong, and slightly curved. 
* This genus was established in 1831, by Mr. Swainson {Faun. Bor. Amer. p. -ig*.). 
t Established by Vieillot in 18l6 {Analyse, p. 36.). Chalcophanes of Wagler (1827) is synonymous, 
