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FAMILY XVII. — STURNIN M. STARLINGS. 
Bill nearly as long' as the head, moderately stout, or rather slender, nearly 
straight, compressed toward the end ; upper mandible with its outline straight, 
slightly convex toward 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 ; gap-line ascending gently at 
the base, then direct. Head ovate or oblong, flattened above ; neck of mo- 
derate 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 com- 
pact. 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 ; tongue slender, 
thin-edged, with the tip slit and lacerated ; oesophagus without dilatation ; 
stomach roundish, its muscular coat rather thin, the epithelium dense, and 
longitudinally rugous ; intestine of moderate length and width ; coeca very 
small, cylindrical ; cloaca ovate or oblong. Trachea simple, with four pairs 
of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, or in cavities ; eggs 
about five. 
Genus I.— STURNELLA, Vieill. MEADOW STARLING. 
Bill rather long, almost straight, conico-subulate, depressed toward the 
end ; upper mandible with the ridge somewhat flattened, the edges sharp and 
overlapping ; the tip narrow, but rounded ; lower mandible with the outline 
straight, the ridge convex, the sides ascending ; the tip slightly rounded. 
Nostrils oval, with an arched membrane above. Head of ordinary size, 
depressed ; neck of moderate length ; body rather full. Feet of moderate 
length, strong ; tarsus distinctly scutellate ; lateral toes nearly equal, hind toe 
