Family XVI. AGELAINAE. MARSH BLACK-BIRDS.
GENUS IV. ICTERUS, Briss. HANG-NEST

Bill a little shorter than the head, conical, very slightly decurved, compressed, tapering to a very attenuated point; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, being very slightly convex, the ridge indistinct, narrowed at the base; the sides convex, the edges overlapping, the tip extremely sharp; gap-line ascending at the base, afterwards direct; lower mandible with the angle long and of moderate width, the dorsal line and that of the crura slightly concave, the sides erect at the base, convex towards the end, the edges slightly inflected, the tip extremely slender. Nostrils basal, elliptical, with a small operculum. Head ovate, of moderate size; neck short; body rather slender. Feet of moderate length, rather stout; tarsus much compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes of moderate size, the hind toe much stronger, the lateral about equal, the third and fourth united at the base. Claws rather long, moderately arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings of moderate length, with the outer four quills nearly equal. Tail of moderate length, rounded and slightly emarginate. Roof of the upper mandible with a broad median ridge, somewhat prominent at the base; tongue tapering to a deeply slit point; oesophagus wide, considerably dilated about the middle; stomach elliptical; intestine short, and of moderate width; coeca very small; cloaca globular.