Order II. PASSERES. 
Tribe IV. Controstres. 
Family III. Sturnida:. 
The seventh Subfamily, 
AGELAIX^E, or Troop- Birds, 
have the Bill the length of the head or shorter, completely conical, with the sides gradually compressed 
towards the tip ; the culmeu straight, flattened, and more or less broad ; the Tarsi usually the length 
of the middle toe ; the Toes lengthened, slender, and the outer united at the base with the middle one ; 
the hind toe long ; and aU armed with long, rather curved Claws. 
^loLOTHRUS SiCaifiS.* 
Bill very short, conical, with the culmen not flattened, but slightly arched from the base, where it is 
elevated and advanced on the forehead ; the nostrils lateral, basal, and partly covered by a membrane 
and projecting plumes. Wings lengthened and pointed, with the first and second quills the longest. 
Tail moderate, and slightly rounded on the sides. Tat^si the length of the middle toe. and strongly 
scutellated. Toes long, the lateral ones equal; and the claws small and fuUy curved. 
They migrate from the very far north to the south, according to the season ; at which time they are seen in small 
parties, resting on the tops of the trees, near streams, or along creeks and banks of rivers. ^Yhen seeking their food, 
thev frequent com and rice fields ; but are commonly observed accompanving the cattle, and are often seen on their 
backs. They feed on the seeds, worms, &c., which they pick up amongst the foddei*, and from the excrements of the 
cattle, which they scratch up for the purpose. The female of this species has the most remarkable habit of dropping 
her eggs, singly, into the nests of other birds, instead of builchug a nest, and hatching for herself; thus entirely aban- 
doning her progeny to the care and mercy of strangers. 
1. M. pecoris (Gmel.) Swains. AVils. Amer. Orn. pi. IS. f. 1, 2, 3. i 3. M. bonariensis (Gmel.) PI. enl. 710. — Icterus niger Baud. ; 
— Icterus emberizoides Baud. ; Sturnus junceti Lath. ; Oriolus | Passerina discolor Vieill. ; Icterus sericeus Licht. ; let. minor 
fuscus et Sturnus obscurus Gwif/. i Av. Bras. t. 62. f. 2. ; let. maxillaris D'Orb.^y Lafr. ; let. frin- 
2. M. brevirostris Swains. Two Cent, and a Quarter, p. 305. ' gillaris Spix, Av. Bras. t. 65. 
Agelaius Vieill.f 
Bill more or less lengthened, the culmen broad and flattened near the base, where it advances on the 
forehead, the sides gradually compressed towards the tip, which is rather pointed, the lateral margins of 
both mandibles inflexed ; the nostrils basal and lateral. Wings moderate, with the first quill rather 
shorter than the second and tliird, which are the longest. Tail lengthened and rounded. Tarsi nearly 
the length of the middle toe. Toes long and slender, the lateral ones equal ; the claws long, slender, and 
slightly cur\"ed. 
• Established by Mr. Swainson {Fauna Boreali-Americana, p. 49i.) in 1831. 
T Established by Vieillot {Analyse, J\c., p. S3.) in 1S16. 
