166 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



of this bird renders it easily recognizable from the other species, where they 

 are all seen together. Wr. Kidgway is of the opinion that the notes of the 

 white-shouldered species differ very considerably from tho.se of the two other 

 Blackbird.'*. 



Dr. lluermauu found this a very abundant bird in ('alifirnia. He states 

 that during the winter of 1852, when hunting in the marshes of Suisan 

 Valley, he had often, on hearing a dull, rushing, maring noise, found that it 

 was produced by a single flock of this sjjccies, numbering so many thousands 

 as to darken the sky for some distance by their masses. In the northern 

 part of California he met with a breeding-place ol' this species that occupied 

 several acres, covered with alder-bushes and willow, and was in the immedi- 

 ate vicinity of water. The nests, often four or five in the same bush, were 

 composed of mud and straw, and lined with fine grasses. The eggs he de- 

 scribes as dark blue, marked with lines and spots of dark nmber and a few 

 light purple dashes. Dr. Heermann, at different times, fell in with several 

 other breeding-places of this .species, similarly situated, but they had all 

 ■~ been abandoned, from which he inferred that each year different grounds 

 are resorted to by these birds for the purposes of incubation. 



Dr. Kennerly obtained a specimen of this bird on the Colorado Eiver, in 

 California, December, 18.54. Dr. Cooper is of the opinion that it is, never- 

 theless, a rare species in that valley. The latter found them the most abun- 

 dant species near San Diego and Los Angeles, and not rare at Santa Barliara. 

 North of the last place they pass more into the interior, and extend up as 

 far as Ivlamath Lake and Southern Oregon. 



They are to be seen in considerable flocks even in tlie breeding-season. 

 Their song. Dr. Cooper states, is not so loud and is more guttural than are 

 those of the other species. Their habits are otherwise very similar, and they 

 associate, in fall and winter, in immense flocks in the interior, though often 

 also found separate. 



These birds were first obtained by jMr. Nuttall near Santa Barbara, in the 

 month of April. They were very common there, as well as at Monterey. 

 He observed no difference in their habits from those of the common Eed- 

 wing, except that they occurred in much larger flocks and kept apart from 

 that species. They were seldom seen, except in the near sidiurbs of the 

 towns. At that time California was in the possession of Mexico, and its 

 inhabitants were largely occupied in tlie slaughter of wilil cattle for the .sake 

 of the hides. Mr. Xuttall found these birds feeding almost exclusively on 

 the maggots of the flesh-flies generated in the offal thus created. They were 

 in large whirling flocks, and associateil with the Molothri, the Grakles, the 

 Eed-wings, and the Yellow-headed Blackbirds. They kept up an incessant 

 chatter and a discordant, confused warble, much more harsh and guttural 

 than even the notes of the Cow Blackbird. 



Two eggs of this species, obtained by Dr. Heermann in California, and 

 now in my cabinet, measuring an inch in length by .67 of an inch in breadth, 



