138 
AGELAIN^. DOLICHONYX. 
narrow, deep, pointed. QEsophagus wide, dilated about the 
middle ; proventriculus oblong ; stomach roundish or ellip- 
tical, with the lateral muscles distinct and well developed ; 
the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous ; intestine 
short and rather wide ; coeca very small, cylindrical ; cloaca 
oblong. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryn- 
geal muscles. Female much smaller. Nest various, on trees 
or bushes, or on the ground, generally elaborate. Eggs 
about five, ovate, spotted and streaked, 
GENUS I. DOLICHONYX, Swains. RICE-BIRD. 
Bill rather short, very stout, moderately compressed, co- 
nical ; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, a little 
convex at the base, and very slightly deflected at the end, 
its ridge rather broad, indistinct, sides rounded, edges di- 
rect, overlapping, tip rather acute ; lower mandible with 
the angle of moderate length, very broad, dorsal outline 
ascending, slightly convex at the base, sides erect and con- 
vex, tip acute ; gape-line ascending for a fourth of its length, 
then direct. Nostrils small, elliptical, operculate. Plumage 
blended, but firm, with little gloss. Wings rather long, 
pointed, the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, 
the feathers narrow and acuminate. Toes large ; claws very 
long, little arched, slender, tapering to a fine point. 
211. 1. Dolichonyx oryzivora, Linn. Wandering Rice-bird. 
— Bob-o-link. Maybird. Ortolan. 
Vlate LIV. Male and Female. 
Male with the head, cheeks, lower parts, wings, and tail, black ; a 
band of brownish-yellow across the hind neck ; the back anteriorly 
black, the feathers with yellowish edges, posteriorly light grey, passing 
into white, of which colour are the scapulars. Female with the upper 
parts light yellowish-brown, longitudinally streaked with blackish- 
brown; the lower parts light greyish-yellow, the sides streaked, with 
dusky. In autumn, the males assume the plumage of the female. 
Male, 7, 11. 
Passes from Texas eastward and northward. Breeds from the Mid- 
dle Districts northward. Extremely abundant. Migratory. 
