Hang-nests

Hang-nests (Icteridæ), a family of finch-like perching birds peculiar to America, and widely distributed over both continents, though most largely represented in the tropical parts of South America. They are often known as American Orioles, a name received because of their brilliant black and yellow colour, not from any connection with the orioles of the Old World. The family includes many well-known birds, such as bob-olinks, cow-birds, grackles, &c., but the name hang-nest is not literally applicable to all, and most perfectly to such genera as Cassicus and Ostinops from tropical South America. The curious purse-like nests woven by many of these birds are often about two feet in length, and have a hole for entrance near the bottom, at one side. One of the best-known species of hang-nest is the Baltimore Oriole (q.v.). The hang-nests are related to the starlings and Weaver-birds (q.v.) of the eastern hemisphere.