THE NORTHWESTERN RED-WING. 57 



particularly in the larval state, injurious to vegetation. Its single fault is 

 a weakness for young corn, but as corn is not a staple crop in Washington, 

 this fault may be readily condoned in view of the bird's valuable services 

 to stockman and orchardist. 



No. 20. 



NORTHWESTERN RED-WING. 



A. O. U. No. 4981. Agelaius phoeniceus caurinus Ridgway. 



Synonyms. — Red-winged Blackbird. Red-shoulderED Blackbird. Marsh 

 Black i;iRi). Swamp Blackbird. 



Description. — Similar to A. p. nctitralis but female much darker, heavily 

 streaked with black below ; in winter feather skirtings of female more extensively 

 rusty. Measurements not essentially different. 



Recognition Marks. — As in preceding. Female darker and more heavily 

 streaked than in A. p. ncutralis. 



Nesting. — Nest: as in preceding; dimensions 5 in. wide by 6 in. deep outside, 

 ^x ^ inside. Eggs: 3 or 4, rarely 5, colored as before ; dimensions varying from 

 1.05 X .76 (26.6x19.3) to 1.0OX.66 (25.4x16.7). Season: second to last week 

 in April, June (Tacoma, April 6, 1906, 3 eggs) ; two broods. 



General Range. — Northwest coast district from northern California north to 

 British Columljia on \'ancouver Island and mainland. 



Range in Washington. — Common in suitable localities west of the Cascades. 

 Irregularly resident. 



Authorities. — .Igclaius pluviiiceus \leil. Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 

 1858, 528. T. C&S. Rh. Kb. Ra. Kk. B. E. 



Specimens.— (U. of W.) Prov. B. E. 



THE bird-man was sitting Turk-fashion on a great mossy log which 

 ran far out into the rustling depths of the South Tacoma swamp. The 

 April sun flooded the scene with warm light and made one blink like a 

 blissful drowsy frog, while the marsh sent up a grateful incense of curling 

 vapor. A pocket lunch of bread and cheese was the ostensible occasion 

 of this noontide bliss, but victuals had small charms beside those of the 

 sputtering Tule Wrens who played hide and seek among the stems, or 

 the dun Coots, who sowed their pulque pulque pulque notes along the 

 reedy depths. 



Upon this scene of marshy content burst a vision of Phcenician splendor, 

 Caurinus I., the military satrap of South Tacoma. the authentic tyee of 

 Blackbirds. He was a well-aged bird, and as is the proper way with 

 feathered folk, resplendent in proportion to his years. His epaulets seemed 

 a half larger again than others, and their scarlet was of the brightest 



