50 
Synopsis of the Birds 
Found in all parts of the globe : not numerous in species r 
arranged in several families by different authors. 
SUBGET/US STURNELLA. 
Sturnella , Vieill. Sturnus , Alauda , Auct. Cassicus , Baud. 
Frontal sinus deep, rounded. Hind toe as long as the 
middle one, much longer and stouter than the lateral. Wings 
rather short, somewhat rounded ; no spurious feather; first 
and fifth primaries subequal ; second, third, and fourth 
longest : two of the secondaries much elongated. 
Peculiar to America. Connecting Sturnus with Icterus 
by the subgenus Cassicus : somewhat allied to Alauda (family 
Passerini.) 
48. Sturnus uudovicianus, L. Beneath, and line over the eye 
yellow ; a black pectoral crescent ; four lateral tail feathers 
white. 
Meadow Lark , Alauda magna , PVils. Am. Orn. Hi. p. 20 . 
pi 19 .fig. 2. 
Inhabits meadows and fields throughout the Union : com- 
mon. 
9. ICTERUS. 
Icterus , Briss. Baud. Temm. Ranz. Oriolus, Tanagra. 
L. Gm. Lath. Xanthornus, Pallas. Xanthornus, Icterus , 
Lacep. Oriolus , Cassicus , III. Cassicus , Cuv. Pendulinus , 
Yphantes , Agelaius , Cassicus, Passerina, Vieill. 
Bill conic-subulate, compressed, rarely a little curved, 
rounded above, very acute ; margins indexed, those of the 
lower mandible angular near the base : nostrils oval, covered 
by a membrane : tongue cartilaginous, acute and bifid at tip. 
Tarsus rather longer than the middle toe ; inner toe but 
little shorter than the outer, and nearly equal to the hind one ; 
middle toe longest ; hind nail twice as large as the others. 
Wings sub-acuminate; first primary but little shorter than the 
third and fourth, which are longest. 
