STURNIN^. 
147 
Tail of moderate lengthy slightly rounded. Male with the plumage 
glossy blacky with green and bluish reflections, the feathers, when new, 
slightly margined with reddish. Female with the plumage somewhat 
duller, a reddish band over, and another under, the eye. Young 
with the head and neck light brown, the rest of the upper parts 
brownish-black, the feathers edged with light reddish-brown, the 
rump tinged with grey ; a band over the eye, and the fore part and 
sides of the neck and body pale yellowish-brown ; abdomen dusky, 
lower tail-coverts dusky brown. 
Makj 9i, 14i. 
From Texas to Maryland, and along the Mississippi and Ohio to 
Kentucky, during winter. Migrates northward to the Fur Countries, 
and to the Columbia River, in summer. Common. 
Rusty Grakle, Gracula ferruginea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii p. 41. 
Quiscalus ferrugineus, Bonap. Syn. p. 55. 
Scolecophagus ferrugineus, Rusty Maggot-eater, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. 
V. ii. p. 286. 
Rusty Blackbird, Quiscalus ferrugineus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 199. 
Rusty Grakle, Quiscalus ferrugineus, AuD. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 325 ; v. v. p. 483. 
FAMILY XVII. STURNIN^. STARLINGS. 
Bill nearly as long as the head, moderately stout, or ra- 
ther slender, nearly straight, compressed toward the end ; 
upper mandible with its outline straight, slightly convex to- 
ward the tip, the ridge somewhat flattened, the sides sloping 
and convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, with a very 
slight or obsolete notch, close to the depressed tip ; lower 
mandible with the angle long and rather acute, the crura 
rather broad and flat at the base, the dorsal line straight, 
the edges sharp, the tip slender ; gape-line ascending gently 
at the base, then direct. Head ovate or oblong, flattened 
above ; neck of moderate length ; body rather full. Feet 
moderately stout ; tarsus rather short, compressed, with seven 
anterior scutella ; toes moderate, or rather long, the first 
stouter, the lateral toes equal, the outer adherent at the 
base. Claws rather long, moderately arched, compressed, 
acute. Plumage rather compact. Wings of moderate length, 
with the first quill very small, the third and fourth longest. 
Tail short or of moderate length, rounded, and generally 
emarginate. Roof of upper mandible with a median ridge ; 
