EASTERN BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE 367 



by no means confines himself to one mate. The mention made by 

 writers of the gregarious nature of the bird, and the use of such terms 

 as "loose colonies" or "small groups" in describing its domestic habits 

 do not convey an accurate picture of the real state of affairs. F. M. 

 Chapman (1922) states: "It is unknown whether the Boat-tail has 

 more than one mate," and A. H. Howell and H. C. Oberholser, both 

 of whom have written extensively about southern birds, say nothing 

 of this matter in their accounts. The fact is, as T. G. Pearson and 

 the Brimleys (1942) state, "the Jackdaw is decidedly polygamous," 

 and all the evidence I have been able to secure personally convinces 

 me that this is correct, even though some experienced observers 

 suggest that the bud is promiscuous, rather than polygamous. 



In Georgia and South Carolina the average dates for courtship 

 activities occur in mid-March, with eggs laid by early or mid April. 

 North Carolina egg dates occur in late April, while in Virginia, Alary- 

 land, and Delaware, they average from May 5 to 20. 



Nesting. — The nest is constructed by the female alone and is 

 composed of grasses and mud, rather bulky and very firm and com- 

 pact. Semidecayed rushes, flags, or marshgrass is usually the 

 foundation; when this material dries and hardens, the result is an 

 exceedingly durable structure that is deep and basket-shaped. It is 

 placed in various aquatic growths such as sawgrass (Cladium effusum), 

 flags (Typha latifolia) and bullrushes (Spartina alterniflora) , all being 

 typical overwater locations, the growth varying with the locality. On 

 the south Atlantic coast many colonies are over dry land but always 

 near water. A favorite nesting shrub in the Charleston area is the 

 wax myrtle (Myrica carolinensis) , very like the northern bayberry. 

 Now and then the live oak {Quercus virginianus) is used, and in such 

 cases, of course, the nests are at much greater elevations, at times 

 between 40 and 50 feet. In the great majority of situations, elevation 

 varies from 3 or 4 feet to about 10 or 12. 



Eggs. — The eggs vary in number from three to five. Apparently, 

 any excess of three is peculiar to the eastern boat-tail and not to the 

 Florida race. I have found four on scores of occasions on the South 

 Carolina coast and sometimes five. The latter number is unusual, 

 the former all but the rule. Audubon gives "four or five" as the set 

 number, C. A. Reed (1904) puts it at "three to five." Two and 

 sometimes three broods are raised. 



Bendire (1895) describes the eggs as follows: 



The eggs of the Boat-tailed Grackle resemble those of the preceding species 

 [great-tailed grackle], both in shape and coloration, excepting that the cloudy purple 

 vinaceous and pale umber tints are generally more evenly distributed over the 

 entire shell, when present, and are not so noticeable at the small end of the egg. 

 In some instances the lines and tracings with which they are marked are also 



