ORIOLES. 



267 



October, though often seen in November. Whilst migra- 

 ting, they are gregarious, and also associate, from time to 

 time, with other Blackbirds. They frequent wet i^laces, par- 

 ticularly if bushy, though, in fall, they may be observed in 

 woodland, often resting grouped in some low pine. They 

 probably do but little mischief to the farmers near Boston, 

 though they sometimes collect in plowed lands. Their food 

 consists of seeds, insects, and Crustacea. To obtain these, 

 they pass much of their time upon the ground, where they 

 walk in the manner of their family, frequently jerking their 

 tails. Though much less often seen near the habitations of 

 man than the Crow Blackbirds, they are not very shy of 

 man's approach, usually flying, when disturbed, to some neigh- 

 boring tree or bush. 



d. While they are here, their ordinary note is a chuck like 

 that of the next species. Their song-notes are not, as I have 

 heard them, musical, but resemble those of the other Black- 

 birds, particularly when united in chorus. The Rusty Grackles, 

 however, are com])aratively very silent, though said to have 

 in their summer homes a musical and agreeable note. Mr. 

 Samuels says that a female, whose nest he approached, on fly- 

 ing " uttered a chattering cry, almost exactly like that of the 

 female Redwing when disturbed in a similar manner." 



VII. QUISCALUS. 



A. QUISCULA. 

 Crow Blachhircl. 

 Purple Grachle. 

 In Massachusetts, 

 a common summer 

 resident in certain 

 localities. 



a. The following 

 description, and 

 that of ceneus^ is quoted (with abridgment) from Messrs. 

 Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, to show what distinctions these 

 gentlemen believe to exist between the typical Crow Black- 

 bird and the variety ceneus, " General appearance glossy 



Fig. 14. Crow Blackbird, (i) 



