270 CITIZEN BIRD 



and very funny is the sight and sound of their devotion. 

 To judge only by tlieir notes, they should belong to the 

 Croaking Birds, and not to the Singers at all ; but they 

 have a regular music-box in the throat, only it is out of 

 order, and won't play tunes. Like the Redwings, they 

 also nest in colonies, either in old orchards, cedar thick- 

 ets, or among pines ; the rest of the year, too, they 

 keep in flocks. Except in the most northerly States 

 Crow Blackbirds stay all winter, like Crows themselves. 

 They are not particularly likable birds, though you 

 will find they have very interesting habits, if you take 

 time to watch them." 



" I Avonder if you fed them with cod-liver oil and 

 licorice lozenges if their voices v*^ould be better?" 

 asked Dodo, who had suffered from a hoarse cold the 

 winter before. 



" I don't knoAV what that treatment might do for 

 them," laughed the Doctor ; '' but if you will agree to 

 feed them I will give you tlie oil and licorice ! " And 

 then Dodo laughed at herself. 



The Purple Grackle* 



Length twelve to thirteen and a half inches. 



Male : glossy black, with soap-bubble tints on the head, back, tail, 

 and wings, and yellow iris. A long tail that does not lie fiat and 

 smooth like that of most birds. 



Female: dull blackish and smaller — not over twelve inches. 



A Citizen of the Atlantic States from Florida to INIassachu- 

 setts. 



A good Citizen, if there are not too many in one place to eat too 

 much grain. 



A Ground Gleaner and Tree Trapper, clearing grubs and beetles 

 from ploughed land. 

 *For the Starling often confu'^ ] with our Blackbird, sec page 431. 



