208 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



ripening corn, and only less destructi\'e because less niimerons. It appears 

 to be an abundant species in all the settled ijortions of the western region, 

 extending to the eastward as far as Wisconsin, and even to Southeastern Illi- 

 nois, one specimen having been obtained in Wisconsin by Mr. Kuinlien, and 

 others in Wabash Co., 111., by Mr. Eidgway. 



In the summer, according to Mr. Kidgway, it retii-es to the cedar and 

 pinon mountains to breed, at that time seldom visiting the river valley. 

 In the winter it resorts in large flocks to the vicinity of corrals and barn- 

 yards, where it becomes very tame and familiar. On the 3d of June he 

 met with the breeding-ground of a colony of these birds, in a grove of 

 cedars on the side of a canon, in liie mountains, near Pyramid Lake. 

 Nearly every tree contained a nest, and several had two or three. Each 

 nest was saddled on a horizontal branch, generally in a tliick tuft of foliage, 

 and well concealed. The majority of these nests contained young, and 

 when these were disturbed the parents flew about the heads of the in- 

 truders, uttering a soft chnck. The maximum number of eggs or young 

 was six, the usual number four or Ave. In notes and manners it seemed 

 to be an exact coimterpart of the C. fernigineus. 



Dr. Suckley found these birds quite abundant at Fort Dalles, but west of 

 the Cascade Mountains they were C[uite rare. At Fort Dalles it is a winter 

 resident, where, in the cold weather, it may frequently be found in flocks in 

 the vicinity of barn-yards and stables. Dr. Cooper also obtained specimens 

 of this Grakle at Vancouver, and regards it as a constant resident on the 

 Columbia Iliver. He .saw none at Puget Sound. In their notes and habits 

 he was not able to trace any difference from the Rusty Blackbird of the 

 Atlantic States. In winter they kept about the stables in flocks of fifties or 

 more, and on warm days flew about among the tree-tops, in company with 

 the Redwings, singing a harsh but pleasant chorus for hours. 



Dr. Cooper states it to be an abundant species everywhere throughout 

 California, except in the dense forests, and resident throughout the year. 

 They frequent pastures and follow cattle in the manner of the Molothrus. 

 They associate with the other Blackbirds, and are fond of feeding and bath- 

 ing along the edges of streams. They have not much song, l)ut the noi.se 

 made by a large flock, as they sit sunning themselves in early spring, is said 

 to be quite pleasing. In this chorus the Redwings frequently assist. At 

 Santa Cruz lie found them more familiar than elsewhere. They frequented 

 the yards about houses and stables, building in the trees of the gardens, and 

 collecting daily, after their hunger was satisfied, on the roofs or on neighbor- 

 ing trees, to sing, for an lumr or two, their songs of thanks. He lias seen a 

 pair of these birds pursue and drive away a large haw k threatening some 

 tame pigeons. 



This species has an extended distrilmtion, liaxing lieen met with by Mr. 

 Kennicott as far north as Pembina, and being also abundant as far south as 

 Northern Mexico. In the Boundary Survey specimens were procured at 



