ICTERUS, Daud. Temm. TROUPIAL.
Bill larger than, or as long as the head, straight, pro longed with a cone, pointed, a little compressed, without any distinct ridge, the base projecting among the front feathers; the point sharp and piercing, without a notch; margins of the mandibles more or less bent inwards; nos trils basal, lateral, longitudinally cleft in the corneous mass of the bill, and covered above by a horny rudiment ; tarsus as long as, or longer than, the middle toe; wings long.
I. nigricollis, Cuv. Pendulinus nigricollis, Vieill. Oriolus capensis, Gmel. and Lath. and the female of Ori olus spurius, Gmel. Black-necked Troupial, or Cape Ori ole; but this last is an unfortunate appellation, as the bird is not a native of Africa. Spot between the bill and the eye, the middle of the throat, and the front of the neck, black. Length six inches two lines; but the female is only five inches seven lines; has no black in her plumage, and the throat yellow. These birds pass the summer in North America, frequenting copses and orchards. The song of the male is sonorous and melodious, but the air short, and little varied. They make their nest of the
fibrous parts of hemp, and other analogous materials, giv ing it the form of a small platter or saucer, and fixing it to the extremities of two branches of a tree, by the project ing edges; and yet so compact are its texture and fasten ings, that it braves the violence of the winds. The hatch consists of four or five white eggs, with black zig-zag markings at the larger end.
Dominicensis, Coy. Oriolus Dominicensis, Lath. Pendulinus flavigaster, Vieill. St. Domingo Troujiial, or St. Domingo Oriole. Bill, feet, and general plumage, black, with the exception of the smaller wing-coverts, the lower parts of the back, the rump, and the abdomen, which are of a beautiful yellow. Rather more than seven inches long. The female differs only in having less brilliant co lours. Native of South America and the West India Islands; building in lofty trees, a pendulous purse-shaped nest. The young have often been described as a separate species.