ICTERIN.E. 
is often hemispherical, externally three inches deep by two in breadth ; the conca-vity scarcely two inches deep by two in 
diameter. The exterior is woven with fibres or stalks of dried grass, and the inside is usually composed of wool, or of 
other soft materials, wherein the female deposits four or more eggs. This nest is generally suspended from the branches 
of fruit trees. 
1. X. Bonana (Linn.) PI. enl. 535. f. 1. 
2. X. dominicensis (Linn.) PI. enl. 5. f. 2. — Pendulinus flavi- 
gaster Vieill. Voy. I'lle de Cuba, Ois. t. I9. bis. 
3. X. chrysocephalus (Linn.) Spix Av. Bras. t. 67. f. 1 Gra- 
cula chrysoptera Merr. Icon. Av. t. 3. 
4. X. cayanensis (Linn.) PI. enl. 535. f. 2., Edwards' Birds, pi. 
322., Swains. Zool. 111. pi. 22. — Agelaius chrysopterus Vieill. 
5. X. chrysocarpus Vigors, Proc. Z. S. 1832. 3. 
6. X. tibialis (Swains.) Two Cent, and a Quarter, p. 302. 
7. X. varius (Gmel.) PI. enl. 607. f. 1. — Oriolus castaneus 
Lath. ; Or. spurius Gmel. PI. enl. 506. f. 2. ; Or. mutatus Wila. 
Amer. Orn. pi. 4. ; Pendulinus solitarius et P. viridis Vieill. 
8. X. mesomelas (Licht.) Isis, 1829. P- 755. — Icterus atro- 
gularis Less. Cent. Zool. t. 22. 
9. X. viridis (Gmel.) — Oriolus virescens Lath. 
10. X. nidipendulus (Gmel.) Sloane Jam. pi. 258. f. 3. 
11. X. aurantius (V^alenc.) Less. Tr. d'Orn. p. 428. 
12. X. jugularis (Lath.) PI. enl. 559. — Tardus ater Gmel. 
1 3. X. flavus Daud. PL enL 6O7. f. 2. — Oriolus capensis Gmel. 
Yphantes Vieill.*' 
Bill conic, shorter than the head, the cuhnen and lateral margins straight, the former advancing on 
the forehead in a point, the tip acute, and the sides compressed ; the nostrils basal, lateral, with the 
opening oval, and protected by a membrane. Wings lengthened and pointed, with the first quill nearly 
as long as the second and third, which are equal and longest. Tail moderate and nearly square. 
Tarsi as long as the middle toe and scaled. Toes moderate, with the lateral ones equal, the hind one as 
long as the lateral, and all strongly scaled above. 
These birds are found only in North America. They are birds of jjassage, remaining in the Northern States during 
the summer, and returning to the Southern States for the winter. They generally prefer living on fruit or on other 
trees that are close to the residences of man. Their migration is performed during the day, and high above all the trees, 
in a straight and continuous course ; when the evening approaches they alight on the lower branches of the trees to 
feed, and afterwards to rest. These birds vary much in colour before arriving at their adult plumage, which is not tiU the 
third year. Their principal food consists of caterpillars, beetles, and other insects. Wilson describes the nest thus. 
" It is generally fixed on the high bending extremities of the branches, by fastening a strong string of hemp or flax round 
two forked twigs corresponding to the intended width of the nest : with the same materials niLxed with quantities of 
loose tow, the bird interweaves or fabricates a strong firm kind of cloth, not unlike the substance of a hat in its raw 
state, forming it into a pouch of six or seven inches in depth, lining it substantially with various soft substances, well 
interwoven with the outward netting, and lastly finished with a layer of horse-hair; the whole being shaded from the 
sun and rain by a natural penthouse or canopy of leaves." The female generally deposits five eggs. 
Y. Baltimore (Linn.) Vieill. PI enl. 506". f. 1., Wils. Amer. Orn, pi, 1. f. 3., and pL 53, f. 4. — Icterus minor Briss. 
* Vieillot established this genus in ISlfi {Analyse, p. 33.). 
October, 1844. 
