STURNID^. — AGELAINjE. 
101 
the hangnests {Jcteridce) hy most writers^ and actually 
united to them and the QuiscaUna:, all in the same 
genus ! by another.* The fact, however^ seems to be, 
that nature has distinctly separated the American orioles 
of Linnaeus into three great groups, yet that she unites 
them so completely by insensible gradations, that unless 
the whole are analysed, their true <listinctions will never 
be detected. America is the sole region of this family, 
no less than of the boat-tails and the hangnests ; and 
we are thus enabled to say something of them from per- 
sonal observation. Like the starlings, the Agelainmahxio&t 
live upon the ground; like them they associate in flocks ; 
and like them show a constant predilection for open pastures, 
and the haunts of men and cattle : whenever, during our 
travels through the wilds of Brazil, we reached the corals 
(or cattle enclosures), we 
were sure to meet with these 
birds ; of which many species 
(in general very obscurely 
known) are found in all parts 
of that empire. The primary 
character, therefore, of the 
maize-birds is, that they are 
terrestrial, while those of the 
next family are arboreal ; and 
both these peculiarities are 
rendered sufficiently apparent 
by external structure. In the 
maize-birds, the feet, like 
those of the starlings, are 
strong and lengthened ; and 
the elevation of the tarsi at 
once proclaims their habits. 
This structure is carried to its 
maximum in theMexican Age- 
laiuslongipes Swains., and in 
the North American Ageluius 
* Wagler, Si/siema Avium^v/herCy under the generic n&me of Psarocolius, 
the whole of the Scaphidurinaij Ictcrituey and Agelaina are looked upon 
‘■^8 mere species. 
H 3 
