Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME IV.
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.