RUSTY GRAKLE. 597 



near, I perceived with dismay and surprise, that the feet of 

 our busy Oriole were forcibly entangled in the side of the 

 nest. Apprehending the fate of these toilsome and fruit- 

 less struggles, I endeavored to interest some bystanders so 

 far, as to sever down the lofty bough of the Button- Wood, 

 in which the distressing scene had occurred ; but while we 

 delayed, from the difficulty of the task, the unhappy victim 

 to this frustrated instinct, cleared her feet, and now got en- 

 tangled by the neck. In this sad predicament of our bird I 

 had to leave the premises, and have little doubt but that the 

 hopes and endeavors of this active tenant of the grove were 

 soon terminated in death. The male, though uneasy, seem- 

 ed both unconscious of the danger of his mate and unable 

 or unconcerned in the means of her escape. 



RUSTY GRAKLE. 



(Quiscalus ferrugineus, Bojvap. Nutt. Man. Orn. i. p. 199.) 

 In addition to the geographical limits of this species we 

 may add, according to Richardson, that it is the most nor- 

 thern of its family, in its summer or breeding range, pro- 

 ceeding as far as the 6Sth parallel, or as high in the fur 

 countries as the forests extend. It arrives on the Saskatche- 

 wan by the end of April, and at Great Bear Lake in 65° by 

 the 3d of May, usually in pairs, and for a time frequenting 

 the beaches of secluded lakes, and feeding on coleopterous 

 insects. Later in the season they join the flocks of Red- 

 Wings, Purple Grakles, and Cow Buntings in committing 

 depredations in the corn-fields. 



