124 NEBRASKA STATE HOHTIOUI/rUIJAL SOCIETY. 



492. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus ( ir/W.).— Maximilian's 

 Nutcracker; Pinon Jay. 



Pine Ridge, near Ft. Kobinson, IMiie Hlufts (L. Bruner); "A rare visitant " 

 in Kansas (Goss); Cherry county, Lung Pine— winters here (J. M. Bates); 

 Sioux county, Feb. 19, 18!)() (L. Bruner, \V. D. Hunter, L. Skow); do., Decem- 

 ber, 1895 (D. A. Haggard); Fullerton, Nance county, February, 1889 (Chas. 

 E. Barker.) 



Family ICTERIDiE.— Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



The various members of the family Icteridce differ so ranch amoug 

 themselves in food-habit that it would be quite difficult to briefly 

 summarize this. This much, however, can be said of the group, viz., 

 that it is essentially insectivorous. The Meadowlark, orioles, Red- 

 winged and Yellow-headed blackbirds certainly have this trait very 

 marked indeed while with us; and, if we are to believe the results 

 obtained by the United States in the recent examinations into the food 

 of the Crow blackbirds, where 2,258 stomachs were examined cover- 

 ing the entire year with the result of 46 per cent being insects, we 

 must acknowledge that the work of these birds is beneficial in the 

 main. 



This leaves to be considered by us the Bobolink and Cowbird, both 

 of which as Nebraska birds are insectivorous. A more detailed ac- 

 count of the food-habits of these birds will be found under the respect- 

 ive species beyond. 



494. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Lmu.).— Bobolink. 



Omaha, Scribner, Holt county, Norfolk— breeds (L. Bruner); "abundant in 

 Nebraska, where it breeds" (Aughey); "Summer resident, abundant, arrives 

 in May" (Taylor); " West to the high plains" (Goss); Beatrice(A. S. Pear.se); 

 Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); numerous 

 Nebraska localities (D. H. Talbot); Gage county (F. A. Colby); a common mi- 

 grant and rare summer resident in vicinity of Omaha, but common summer 

 resident and breeder in Cherry county" (1. S. Trostler). 



495. Molothrus ater (^o(Zc/.).— Cowbird. 



West Point, Omaha, Lincoln, Thedford, Crawlbrd, etc. — breeds (L. Bruner); 

 "This bird is unfortunately abundant in Nebraska" (Aughey); "Summer 

 resident, common, arrive in May and leave in October" (Taylor); "From the 

 Atlantic to the Pacific" (Goss); Beatrice (A. S. Peajise); Fairbury (M. L. 

 Eaton); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Cherry county, Holt county— breeds, "saw 

 a nest of Kedwiog Bhickbird at Stuart with live eggs of this bird and three of 

 its host" (J. M. Bates); Omaha, "an abundant migrant and summer resident 

 —May 2 to O.t. 15" (I. S. Trostler); Lincoln, Oct. 10 (D. A. Haggard). 



