EASTERN BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE 371 



the bird is all but upset, and is often obliged to sidestep ludicrously 

 in order to turn broadside to a brisk breeze. 



In flight, the wings are moved rapidly, and here again the tail seems 

 to get so much in the way as to constitute a handicap. The flight 

 is somewhat labored in appearance, particularly into the wind, and 

 one is strongly reminded of the slow progress of a blimp in a headwind 

 when watching the boat-tail in like circumstances. The wings often 

 make a pounding noise as the bud passes close overhead, making 

 evident the effort being put forth. 



Like the Florida race (see p. 360), the eastern boat-tail tends at 

 times to be a predator. It is also a highly proficient fisherman, often 

 wading into pools and streams to belly depth, or stalking about the 

 shallows with tail held high, making occasional and accurate jabs at 

 minnows. 



Slightly wounded specimens are exceedingly agile and lead one an 

 exhausting chase, at the termination of which they bite and scratch 

 the collector's hands vigorously, often to bloody effect. 



This species is occasionally subject to albinism and, as might be 

 supposed, the effect is invariably striking. While I have never seen 

 a totally albinistic specimen, on two occasions I have observed it in 

 the partial state. In January 1944, in company with E. B. Chamber- 

 lain of the Charleston (S. C.) Museum, we unsuccessfully pursued 

 such a specimen on James Island, which was very wild. A day or 

 two later however, the bird was secured and brought to the museum, 

 where it is now preserved. The body is white, the wings and tail 

 black. 



Voice. — Of the several characters which make this bird conspicuous, 

 its vocal accomplishments are in the very front rank. There may be 

 more noisy birds but if so, I have yet to hear them! One or another 

 may be noted for vociferous effort but the boat-tail is without equal. 

 While some of its productions are not unmusical, most can hardly be 

 described as anything but raucous, harsh, guttural and rasping. 

 Translation into words of even approximate equality is impossible; 

 at any rate, none of the "chips," "chirrs," or "kwees" I might invent 

 would go far toward interpreting its astonishing medley of what might 

 as well be groans, grunts, clacks, and shrieks. 



In that characteristic style of the time, Nuttall (1832) dignifies the 

 boat-tail's vocal attainments by saying that "their concert, though 

 inclining toward melancholy, is not altogether disagreeable." 

 Audubon renders the calls into "crick, crick, cree" with a variation in 

 more pleasing vein during tho "love season" of "tirit, tirit, titiri, 

 rising from low to high with great regularity and emphasis." There 

 is little point in giving other verbal renditions of the voice. Suffice 

 it to say that, during spring and early summer it is all but incessant 



