BIRDS OF MINNESOTA, 285 



oers. They do so in the northern parts of Maine and New 

 Hampshire. Samuels in his Birds of New England says: 

 ' 'While in the valley of the Magalloway river in Maine in June, 

 1864, I found several (nests) ; and two of them contained three 

 eggs each. 



' 'These nests were all built in low alders overhanging the 

 water. They were constructed of, first, a layer of twigs and 

 brier stalks; on this was built the nest proper, which was com- 

 posed of stalks and leaves of grass, which were mixed with 

 mud, and moulded into a firm, circular structure and lined 

 with fine leaves of grass and a few hair-like roots. The whole 

 formed a large structure, easily seen at the distance of a few 

 rods through the foilage. The eggs are of a bluish-white 

 color, of oval form, and covered with fine scratches and spots 

 of light brown. These markings are almost exactly similar 

 to those on the egg of the Great crested Flycatcher. They 

 appear as if done with a pen, which as soon as it is pressed 

 forcibly on the object, is suddenly withdrawn, making a mark 

 wide at one end, and sharply pointed at the other." Their 

 dimensions were 1.04 by .76 inch, 1.05 by .75 inch and 1 by .70 

 inch. 



They reappear in their southern migration about the first 

 of October, associated with Brewer's Blackbirds and Redwings, 

 and in greatly augmented numbers. At this time their food 

 consists almost exclusively of the wasted grain of the harvest. 

 They seem to have the faculty of obtaining their food in less 

 time than the Redwings, and consequently have more for 

 exclusively social enjoyment. Much of their time is spent on 

 the fences, and in the trees, with only an unmelodious note 

 like check, or check che weecha, uttered alike by both sexes. 

 They mostly take their autumnal leave of us and move south- 

 ward at the beginning of November. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTEKS. 



Bill slender, shorter than head, about equal to hind toe; its 

 height not quite two-fifths its total length ; wing nearly an inch 

 longer than the tail; second quill longest; first a little shorter 

 than the fourth; tail slightly graduated; lateral feathers about 

 a quarter of an inch shortest; general color black, with purple 

 reflections; wings, under tail covens, and hinder part of the 

 belly, glossed with green; female, dull brown; iris pale straw 

 color. 



Length, 9.51; tail, 4. 



Habitat, eastern North America, west to Alaska and the 

 Plains. Breeds from northern New England northward. 



