Oder II. PASSERES. 
Tribe IV. Conirostres. 
Family III. Sturnidje. 
file seventh Subfamily, 
AGELAINTE, or Troop-Birds, 
have the Bill the length of the head or shorter, completely conical, with the sides gradually compressed 
towards the tip ; the culmen straight, flattened, and more or less broad ; the Tarsi usually the length 
the middle toe ; the Toes lengthened, slender, and the outer united at the base with the middle one ; 
hind toe long ; and all armed with long, rather curved Claws. 
Molothrus Swains .* 
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 
an d projecting plumes. Wings lengthened and pointed, with the first and second quills the longest. 
Tail moderate, and slightly rounded on the sides. Tarsi the length of the middle toe, and strongly 
stellated. Toes long, the lateral ones equal; and the claws small and fully curved. 
They migrate from the very far north to the south, according to the season ; at which time they are seen m snm 
parties, resting on the tops of the trees, near streams, or along creeks and banks of rivers. When seeking their foo , 
tlle 7 frequent corn and rice fields ; but are commonly observed accompanying the cattle, and are often seen on their 
hacks. They feed on the seeds, worms, &c„ which they pick up amongst the fodder, and from the excrements of the 
cattie, which they scratch up for the purpose. The female of this species has the most remarkable habit of dropping 
her eggs, singly i nt0 t hc nests of other birds, instead of building a nest, and hatching for herself; thus entirely aban- 
doning her progeny to the care and mercy of strangers. 
'' pecoris (Gmel.) Swains. Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. 18. f. 1, 2, 3. 
fus * Cterus em berizoides Baud. ; Sturnus junceti Lath. ; Oriolus 
g Us et Sturnus obscurus Gmel. 
M. breviroHrig Swains. Two Cent, and a Quarter, p. 305. 
3. M. bonariensis (Gmel.) PI. enl. 710. — Icterus niger Laud. ; 
Passerina discolor Vieill. ; Icterus sericeus Licht. ; let. minor Sprx, 
Av. Bras. t. 62. f. 2. ; let. maxillaris D’Orb. Sf Lafr. ; let. frin- 
gillaris Spix, Av. Bras. t. 65. ? 
Agelaius Vieill. t 
BUI 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 mai te ins of 
1,0tb mandibles inflexed ; the nostrils basal and lateral. Wings moderate, with the first quill rather 
sb °rter than the second and third, 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 
=htly curved. 
slig 
* Established by Mr. Swainson (Fauna Boreali- Americana, p. 494.) m 1831. 
■f Established by Vieillot ( Analyse , fyc., p* 33.) in 
