550 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



This western species is included in our list upon the authority of 

 Messrs. Kumlien and Hollister, who state: "A specimen of Clarke's 

 crow was shot by Mr. Hawley, in the western outskirts of Mil- 

 waukee (Wisconsin) in the late fall of 1875. The bird was too badly 

 shot to make a good skin and it came into the possession of Dr. G. 

 W. Peckham, who made a skeleton of it himself. The specimen, 

 with the exact date, etc., was later destroyed by the disastrous high 

 school fire in that citv-" It has not been observed in Illinois. 



Family ICTERID.^. Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



The Icteridae are an American family, comprising about 1 50 species, 

 varying much in appearance and habits. The Blackbirds, Meadow- 

 larks, etc., are more or less gregarious, while the Orioles are rather 

 solitary. Some species (the Orioles) build a pensile nest attached to 

 branches; others, like the Marsh Blackbirds prefer swamps, while 

 the Meadowlark makes its nest on the ground in open fields and plains. 



All are vocalists of more or less excellence. Their food consists 

 of seeds and insects, although at times they eat fruit. One species, 

 the Bobolink, becomes very fat while in the south, where it is known 

 as Rice Bird and Reed Bird, and is there considered a great delicacy. 



Red-winged Blackbird. 



Crackle. 



Oriole. 



Meadowlark. 



