356 PERCHING BIRDS. 
especially the backward prolongation of the hinder extremity of the lower 
mandible, the large assemblage of American birds known as cassiques and hang- 
nests may be regarded as the New World representatives of the starlings of the 
Old World, although, so far as habits are concerned, it does not appear that there 
is any very marked structural affinity between the two families. Distinguished by 
the length and slenderness of the beak, which in most cases equals the head in 
THE CRESTED CASSIQUE (§■ nat. size). 
length, these birds generally possess pointed wings, which have never more than 
nine primaries; they have strong feet, and chiefly black plumage. Among the 
numerous genera onty a few can be selected for notice. Congregating in flocks, 
after the manner of starlings, many of these birds build the long, pendent, bottle¬ 
like nests, from which the name of the family is derived. The family may 
be divided into three groups, the first comprising the rice-birds and cow-birds, the 
second the true hangnests, and the third the troupials; the characters of which 
are pointed out below. 
