S. CYANOCEPHALUS, BLUE-HEADED GRACKLE. 199 



in mountains) northward, throughout a great part of the British Pos- 

 sessions, from Labrador entirely across to AUiska. Now, to take an 

 intermediate point — say Fort Pembina, on the lied Eiver, the extreme 

 northeast corner of Dakota. Here, in the spring and summer, the 

 Eusty Grackle is not known, while Brewers Blackbird occurs in great 

 abundance, breeding. In the fall, howev^er, the Rusty Grackle enters 

 Dakota from the north on its migration, and mixes with the other 

 species. I have even found them so associated over three hundred 

 miles further west, on the head-waters of the Mouse Eiver, where they 

 came in September; and for a month the Hocks of Blackbirds about 

 our camps contained both species of Scolecophcujiis, associating so inti- 

 mately that the same shot would generally drop individuals of both 

 kinds. Their habits at this season are identical, but the specific char- 

 acters are always, so far as 1 know, preserved intact. 1 have never 

 seen any doubtful specimens of either species. 



Mr. Holdeu's record of /S'. fcrrugineus breeding in W^-oming in com- 

 pany with the other species is undoubtedly erroneous; no such associ- 

 ation occurs at this season ; when the two are found together, the indi- 

 viduals of S. femigincus are altogether a difttrent lot, come from the 

 North. The case is by no means unparalleled ; in fact, a great many 

 birds in migrating take up diiierent lines of migration in the spring and 

 fall. This brings species often into association at certain seasons, while 

 never found together at other times; and it accounts satisfactorily for 

 their abundance, during migration, at one season and scarcity at 

 another. Of this latter fact we have a striking example in the Con- 

 necticut Warbler {Oporornis agilis), a bird so abundant in New England 

 and elsewhere in the East, in the fall, that hundreds have been taken in 

 one season, while it is rarely ever seen in tiie spring, as at that season 

 it api)ears to migrate inland, up the Mississippi Valley, being, according 

 to accounts, not uncommon at some points during tlie vernal migration. 



SCOLECOPHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS, (Wagl.) Cab. 

 Blue-headed Grackle; Brewer's Blackbird. 



Paarocoltufi cyanocepliahis, Wagl., Isis, 18'29, 758. 



Scohxophaijtia cijanocfpliahiH, C.viJ., Miis. Heiii. i, 1851, 195. — Bn., B. N. A. 1858, 552. — 

 llEEiiM., p. K. K. Ke]). X, 185'J, pt. vi, 53. — Coop. &, Suckl., N. II. Wash. 

 Ter. 1800, 209.— IIavd., liep. 18li2, 170.— Di:ess., Ibis, 16(55, 40:5 (Mataiiioras 

 and Sail Antonio, l)ree(ling). — Cass., Pr. Pliila. Acad. 180t3, 41o. — CoL'US, Pr. 

 Pliila. Acad. 18(i(), 90 (Arizona, rosidcnt). — SL'MICm., Meui. Bost. Soc. i, 18o9, 

 553 (plateau of Mexico, abundant). — Snow, B. Kaus. 1873, 8 (Eastern Kansas). — 

 Stev., U. S. Geol. Surv. Ter. 1870, 405.— Mekh., ihld. 1.-72, (W7.— Aikkn, Pr. 

 Bost. Soc. 1872, 203 (Wvoniinjr).— Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 178.— CoUES, 

 Key, 1872, 100.— B. B. cV K., >*. A. B. ii, 1874, 200, pi. 35, f. 3. 



Seolccopha'/tin mcxicaims, S\v., Two Cent, and a Quart(!r, 1838, 302, No. GG. — Gr.vv, Gen. 

 of B.— Bi'., Cons]!. i, 1850, 432.— Newh., P. K. K. Kep. vi, 1857, 86. 



" Icier iiH untHH, Li<;Hr." {Up.) 



Qnifrulnn bnivcri, Aui)., B. Am. vii, 1843, 345, pi. 492. 



HcokcophmjUH ''J'vnityiiictt)i" Hold., Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 203 (error) (\Vyoniin<;, breeding). 



Hub. — United States, from Eastern Kansas and Minnesota totlio Paeilie. South into 

 Mexico. Breeds throughout its United States laugc. Migratory I'roni extremes i f its 

 range. 



List of sjyechnens. 



Lhiilenoiil Vaneii's Expedilion. — 5320, Fort Randall, Dakota; 4753-56, Upper Mis- 

 souri lii\er. 



J,(itti- /;x^;((///i(>»/.v.—()()151-."7, 00721-30. 010711-73, various Wyoming localities; 01710, 

 61731, Utah; 02272-73, Idaho and Wyoming. 



