STURNiD.?;:. 225 



tliey destroy a prodigious number of worms, grubs, 

 and caterpillars ; on tlie other hand, they commit 

 great depredations on the maize or Indian corn as 

 soon as it appears above the ground, feeding on the 

 sweet and sprouting stem, and scattering the leaves 

 around as an evidence of their mischievous mode of 

 life. This plant is again attacked when the grain is 

 in the milky state to such an extent that one -fourth 

 of the crop is supposed to be devoured by these 

 hungry marauders. Previously to their departure 

 to the Southern States, they collect from all parts 

 in such hosts that the air is darkened by their 

 numbers. 



The best-known species — 



The Purple duiscalus (Quiscalus purpureus), generally 

 called the Purple Grakle, is an annual visitor to the 

 United States of North America. These birds frequent 

 marshy districts, but in the month of March approach 

 rural habitations, and pick up food in the farm-yards, or 

 even at the doors of houses, where they will share the 

 gram thrown out to the fowls. The woods, and more 

 especially those of a marshy character, are selected as fit 

 localities for building their nests, which are composed of 

 the stems of dried grass, sedge, and fibrous roots, and 

 strengthened externally with a coat of clay. The eggs 

 are five or six in number, of a bluish colour, spotted, and 

 streaked with dark brown or black. Two broods are 

 reared in the course of the year. 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Black Boat-tail [Scaphidurus ater). 



