File:The genera of birds (18988794468).jpg

Order II. PASSER ES.
Tribe IV. CONIROSTKES.
Family III. Sttrxida-:.
The seventh Subfamily,
AGKLAINiE, or Troop-Birds,
have the Bill the length of the head or shorter, completely conical, with the sides gradually compressed
towards the tip ; the culinen straight, flattened, and more or less broad ; the Tarsi usually the length
of the middle toe ; the Toes lengthened, slender, and the outer united at the base with the middle one ;
the hind toe long ; and all armed with long, rather curved Claws.
Moi.othrus Swains.*
Bill very short, conical, with the culmen not flattened, but slightly arched from the base, where it is
elevated and advanced on the forehead ; the nostrils lateral, basal, and partly covered by a membrane
and projecting plumes. Wings lengthened and pointed, with the first and second quills the longest.
Tail moderate, and slightly rounded on the sides. Tarsi the length of the middle toe, and strongly
scutellated. Toes long, the lateral ones equal; and the claws small and fully curved.
Thev migrate from the very far north to the south, according to the season ; at which time they are seen in small
parties, resting on the tops of the trees, near streams, or along creeks and banks of rivers. When seeking their food,
thev frequent corn and rice fields ; but are commonly observed accompanving the cattle, and are often seen on their
backs. They feed on the seeds, worms, &c, which they pick up amongst the fodder, and from the excrements of the
cattle, which they scratch up for the purpose. The female of this species has the most remarkable habit of dropping
her eggs, singly, into the nests of other birds, instead of building a nest, and hatching for herself ; thus entirely aban-
doning her progeny to the care and mercy of strangers.
1. ML pecoris (Gmel.) Swains. Wils. Amer. Orn. pi. IS. f. 1, 2, 3. 3. M. bonarien#is (Gmel.) PI. enL 710. — Icterus niger Daud. ;
— Icterus emberizoides Daud.; Sturnus junceti Lath.; Oriolus Passerina discolor Vieill. ; Icterus sericeus Licht. ; let. minor Spix,
fuscus et Sturnus obscurus Gmel. \ Ay. Bras. t. 62. f. 2. ; let. maxillaris D'Orb.S; Lafr. ; let. frin-
2. If. brevirostris Swains. Two Cent, and a Quarter, p. 305. gillaris Spix, A v. Bras. t. 65. i
Agelaius VteilLf
Bill more or less lengthened, the culmen broad and flattened near the base, where it advances on the
forehead, the sides gradually compressed towards the tip, which is rather pointed, the lateral margins of
both mandibles inflexed ; the nostrils basal and lateral. Wings moderate, with the first quill rather
shorter than the second and third, which are the longest. Tail lengthened and rounded. Tarsi nearly
the length of the middle toe. Toes long and slender, the lateral ones equal ; the claws long, slender, and
slightly curved.

• Established by Mr. Swainson .Fauna Boreali-Americana, p. 4Qi.) in 1831.