200 OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 



banks of the Ohio, near Kentucky river, during a snow 

 storm. They arrive in the vicinity of Hudson's Bay 

 about the beginning of June, and feed much in the man- 

 ner of the Common Crow-Blackbird on insects, which 

 they find on or near the ground. Dr. Richardson, saw 

 them in the winter as far as the latitude of 53^. They 

 sing in the pairing season, but become nearly silent 

 while rearing their young ; though when their brood re- 

 lease them from care they again resume their lay, and 

 may occasionally be heard until the approach of winter. 

 Their song is quite as agreeable and musical as that of 

 the Starling, and greatly surpasses that of any of the 

 other species. I have heard them singing until the mid- 

 dle of October. 



They are said to build in trees, at no great distance 

 from the ground, making a nest similar to the other 

 species, and lay 5 eggs, rather dusky, and spotted with 

 blfick. The young and old, now assembling in large 

 troops, retire from the northern regions in September. 

 From the beginnincr of October to the middle of Novem- 

 ber, they are seen in flocks through the Eastern States. 

 During their stay in this vicinity, they assemble towards 

 night to roost in or round the reed marshes of Fresh Pond, 

 near Cambridge. Sometimes they select the willows by 

 the water for their lodging, in preference to the reeds, 

 which they give up to their companions the Crow-Black- 

 birds. Early in October they feed chiefly on grasshoppers 

 and berries, and at a later period pay a transient visit to 

 the corn-fields. They pass the winter in the Southern 

 States, and like their darker relatives, make familiar visits 

 to the barn-yard and corn-cribs. Wilson, remarks, that 

 they are easily domesticated, and in a few days become 

 quite familiar, being reconciled to any quarters while 

 supplied with plenty of food. 



