260 111..\Ci{1;1111)s, 011101.115, ETC. 
     
    
   
   
    
     FAMILY ICTERIDJE. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 
     
    
   
   
    
     'l‘his distinctively American family is most abundantly represented 
     
     in the tropies, where the majority of the one hundred and fifty known 
     
     species are. found. With the exception of the Orioles. they are gre- 
     
     garious after the nesting season while some of the species nest in col- 
     
     onies and are tound 111 tlotks tlnoughout the \e 11 
     
    

    
     the) diller 111111110111) in habits, and me found living in ground of 
     
     every nature. from dry plains and wet marshes to the densest; forest 
     
     growth. Some species possess marked vocal ability. while the voices 
     
     of others are harsh and unlnusical. They feed on fruit, seeds, and 
     
     insects. 
     
    

    
     KEY TO THE Sl‘lit'll‘ls. 
     
     I. With yellow or orange in the under parts. 
     
     .1. Throat blaek. 
     
    

    
     a. Back black . . . . . . . . . . . 507. 1111111110111: 03101.2. 
     
     0. lhiek greenish . . . . . . . F1013. Oneimm) 0111011: ( 6 i111.). 
     
     I}. A blaek or blaekish ereseent on the breast: outer tuil-t'eathem white. 
     
     {1111. .\I12.\11ow1..\1:11. 50111. \\'1:sr1-:11s MEADOWLARK. 
     
    

    
     (I Entire under parts yellow, _\'ell1,>wish.or orange. 
     
     11. Rump 11nd tail orange. . . 507. Ii.\1.'1'1.\11>1:15 011101.11 (9 and i111.). 
     
     b. [Tpper parts yellowish green . SUI}. ()1:1~11.\1:11 ()thHJ-Z ( 9 11nd 1111.). 
     
     0. Upper parts brownish. streaked and spotted with bluek: tail-feath- 
     
     ers pointed . . . . . . . . . . 4114. “111101.131; (9 1111111111.). 
     
     1). Throat and breast yellow or yellowish : belly blaek or dark "ravish 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     lnvmtt. . . 4'17. Y;.111ow111-\1>1-1> B1..\1.1\1111:11. 
     
     II. Under parts black, with or without metallic reflec- 
     
     tions. 
     
    
   
   
    
     A. Outer tail—feathers '75 or more shorter than middle ones; bill 1'00 or 
     
     more in length. 
     
     a. Tail over 11-110 . . . . . . . . 513. Bo.\'1—T.\11.1:1) GltACKLE 6. 
     
     6. Tail u11d1-.1~1‘1'0|l. 
     
     (2‘. Back bronzy purple or shining, brassy bluish green, the feathers 
     
     with friv/w-mi‘ burs . . . . . . 511. 1’1'111-1.11: GRAUKLE ( 6 ). 
     
     b9. Back bronze, wit/tout iridescent bars. 
     
     511b, BRUNZEI) GnM‘Ku: 6. 
     
     (/3. Back bottle green the. feathers more purple at their base, and 
     
    
   
   
    
     with a narrow i1ideseent Ihar near the middle. 
     
     511a. FLORIDA GRAI. 111.51 5, 
     
    
   
   
    
     (1‘. Back bluish black, with or without indeseent bars. 
     
     511. Pun-1.1; GRAFKIJ: (_ <2 ). 51111. FLORIDA (111.1111111, 9. 
     
     11’. Outer tail—feathers little it' any shorter than middle onus; bill less 
     
     than 1-00 in length. 
     
     a. Entire plumaue bluish black, the feathers sometimes tipped 111th 
     
     butl'_\or1ut'ous. . . . . . 50‘.) R1s’r1‘ BiAeKmRD. 
     
     b. A red and butt shoulder -pnteh . 498.1{1211-“11161511 BLAcxumD (6)-