98 
ON THE CLASSIFICATION OP BllinS. 
(113.) From the crows, we proceed to the family of 
starlings (Sturnida), but the unarranged state of the 
last group prevents us from knowing the genus by which 
this passage is truly effected. The various birds assimi- 
lated by ornithologists to our European starling, are ge- 
nerally of the same size: they appear, in fact, like a smaller 
race of crows, which they very much resemble in man- 
ners and in structure : in the latter respect they are evi- 
dently much weaker: they seek their food generally upon 
the ground live in societies, and seem universally to pre- 
ferplains frequented by cattle. The three principal groups 
are well characterised. In the first, the margins of the 
bill form a distinct angle at the base, which is very wide ; 
the gape extends beneath the eye, and the tips are slightly 
notched: these are the true starlings (Sturnmee). In the 
second, the biU is shorter, more compressed, and very 
much resembles that of a thrush, being almost destitute of 
the basal angle : this subfamily comprehends the true gra- 
kles (Lamjirotornma), and is remarkable for the metallic 
lustre of its dark-coloured plumage. The third, or aber- 
rant division, includes the boat-tails (^Smphidurinai), the 
hangnests (Icterince), and the maize-birds {Agdainte), 
all of which are characterised by a perfectly entire’finch- 
like bill, more or less conic, but of different lengths. 
(114.) Commencing with the boat- tails (Scaphidvri- 
NAs), we have the largest birds in tlie whole family ; those 
in short, which even a scientific observer might easily 
mistake for real crows. They derive their common 
name from tlie singular structure of the tail, which is 
graduated, and is rendered so concave on its upper 
surface, by the oblique folding on its sides, as to resemble 
the form of a boat. All the true species of this group 
are natives of America, and resemble the crows in the 
glossy blackness of their plumage, although they are obvi- 
ously the rasorial division of this family. Hut there is a 
bird from New Guinea, the Astrapia gularis Vieil. {fig. 
153.), which, from exhibiting the greatest developementof 
this structure, might be taken for the type, did not its bill 
and general habit evince an approximation to the next 
