A MIDSUMMER EXCURSION 



269 



Female : mixed rusty black and buff, with dull reddish-orange 

 shoulders — not conspicuous. 



A Citizen of Xorth America in general. 



A member of the guilds of Ground Gleaners and Tree Trappers. 



THE PURPLE GRACKLE 

 (The Crow Blackbird. Rusty Hinge) 



What a noise those Black- f birds are making 

 said Nat. 



" That's nothing to the way 

 they do early in the spring, 

 or in autumn, after they are 

 through nesting," said Rap. 

 " You should hear 

 them. Tiiey come to 

 a big chestnut across 

 the road from our 

 house, more than a 

 hundred of them at 

 once, and they creak 

 and crackle and 

 squeak till all of a 

 sudden doAvn they go 

 on the ground, and 

 walk about awhile to 

 feed." 



" Yes," said the 

 Doctor, " I call them 

 Rusty Hinges, for their voices sound like the creaking 

 of a door that needs oiling on the hinges. But in 

 spite of this they try to sing to their mates in spring, 



Purple Grackle. 



