THE RED -WINGED BLACKBIRD. 39 



grass he builds his nest, composed of a mass of dry 

 weeds or some other material for an exterior, and 

 lined with fine grass or horse-hair. The female lays 

 from four to six eggs of a light blue color, slightly 

 spotted with brown. It is after the second brood is 

 fully fledged that these birds congregate in such vast 

 numbers, and commence their depredations upon the 

 growing corn, which, being still young and tender, 

 attracts them in such numbers as to darken the air 

 and fairly to blacken the spot upon which they settle. 

 At such times scare-crows avail little to protect the 

 grain, and even the report of a gun will but drive 

 them from one part of the field to another. This, 

 however, does not continue long ; as the corn advances 

 toward maturity, it soon becomes too hard for their 

 tastes, and away they fly to try their chance among 

 the rice-fields of the South. The plumage of the 

 male bird is very beautiful, and one of these yast 

 flocks in their early spring dress presents a very 

 grand and imposing appearance ; their bodies of jetty 

 black, with a broad patch of bright vermilion on each 

 shoulder, which sparkles in the sun's rays with pleas- 

 ing effect. 



It is very interesting, in studying the habits of 

 birds, to notice the peculiar methods adopted by the 

 different species in the construction of their nests. 

 While we see that some, with careless ease, build a 

 fragile tenement upon the ground, others, with the 

 skill of an architect, put together a most elaborate 

 structure, such as would almost defy art to imitate. 

 The bird we are now about to introduce is in this re- 



