of the United States . 4$ 
sharp : nostrils basal, partly covered : tongue not elongated 
nor extensible, bifid or emarginate at tip. Feet robust ; 
tarsi annulated, naked, inner toe free ; hind toe more or less 
elongated, thick ; nails compressed, acute. Wings moderate, 
or but little elongated ; primaries acute at tip. 
Omnivorous. Gregarious, at least for a part of the year ; 
live in forests, but chiefly meadows and fields ; alight equally 
on trees and on the ground. Build in trees, some also on 
cliflfs and in houses. Flesh generally hard, unpalatable. Voice 
harsh and unpleasant. Plumage of several eminently dis- 
tinguished by colour and texture. For the most part easily 
tamed and taught to articulate words. 
GREGARII 
Bill conic-elongated, entire, forming a sinus in the front 
feathers. Outer and middle toes united at base. Tail of 
twelve feathers. 
8. STURNUS. 
Sturnus , L. Briss. Cm. Lath. 111. Cuv. Temm. 
Sturnus, Sturnella , VieiU. Sturnus , Amhlyramphus , Leach. 
Bill conic-subulate, depressed, rather obtuse at tip; mar- 
gins vertical ; upper mandible somewhat rounded above ; 
lower a little shorter, narrow, compressed : hardly ascending, 
nostrils oval-elongated, half closed by an arched membrane : 
tongue cartilaginous, depressed, narrowed, acute and bifid at 
tip. Tarsus subequal to the middle toe ; outer hardly longer 
than the inner; hind toe stoutest: hind nail longest and largest. 
Female hardly distinct. Young differing from the adult. 
Colours more brilliant in spring, though the moult is annual. 
Feed chiefly on insects which they seek in fields and mea- 
dows, principally on the ground: some species follow the path 
of oxen and sheep with this view, and often alight on their 
backs. Build in holes of trees, houses, &c. and the Ameri- 
can species in tufts of grass. 
