MESQUITE BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE 355 



The largest egg in the series measures 36.58 by 22.61 millimetres, or 

 1.44 try 0.89 inches; the smallest, 28.19 by 20.57 millimetres, or 1.11 

 by 0.81 inches. 



Young. — There is no evidence that this race differs, in the care 

 of the young, from the eastern or Florida races. 



Plumages. — The molts and plumages of the mesquite grackle are 

 similar to those of the boat-tailed grackle, with due allowance for 

 subspecific characters. 



Food. — The food and feeding habits of this grackle are evidently 

 similar to those of the boat-tailed. It seems to be equally omnivorous, 

 feeding mainly on the ground or in shallow water on various forms of 

 insects and their larvae, small crustaceans, little fishes, and whatever 

 small aquatic animals, dead or alive, it can pick up around the shores. 

 Some grain and small fruits are eaten, but no great damage to human 

 interests is done. However, these grackles destroy large quantities 

 of eggs of other birds in the colonies where they breed. 



Behavior. — George B. Sennett (1878) writes: 



When I think of this bird, it is always with a smile. It is everywhere as 

 abundant on the Rio Grande as is Passer domesticus, English Sparrow, in our 

 northern cities, and, when about the habitations, equally as tame. This bird is 

 as much a part of the life of Brownsville as the barrelero rolling along his cask of 

 water or the mounted beggar going his daily rounds. In the towns or about the 

 ranches, he knows no fear; is always noisy, never at rest, and in all places and 

 positions; now making friends with the horses in the barns or the cattle in the 

 fields, then in some tree pouring forth his notes, which I can liken only to the 

 scrapings of a "cornstalk fiddle"; now stealing from porch or open window some 

 ribbon for his nest, then following close behind the planter, quick to see the 

 dropping corn. With all his boldness and curiosity, the boys of the streets say 

 they cannot trap or catch him in a snare. He will take every bait or grain but 

 the right one; he will put his feet among all sorts of rags but the right ones; and 

 the boys are completely outwitted by a bird. He performs all sorts of antics. 

 The most curious and laughable performance is a common one with him. Two 

 males will take position facing each other on the ground or upon some shed, 

 then together begin slowly raising their heads and twisting them most comically 

 from side to side, all the time steadily eyeing each other, until their bills not only 

 stand perpendicular to their bodies, but sometimes are thrown over nearly to 

 their backs. After maintaining this awkward position for a time, they will 

 gradually bring back their bills to their natural position, and the performance 

 ends. It is somewhat after the fashion of clowns' doings in a circus, who slowly 

 bend backward until their heads touch their heels, then proceed to straighten 

 up again. It is a most amusing thing to see, and seems to be mere fun for the 

 bird, for nothing serious grows out of it. 



With all their familiarity, I have seen these birds in the open chaparral as 

 wild and wary as other birds, knowing very well when out of gunshot range. 

 Their flight is rather slow, and when they make an ascent it is labored; but once 

 up, with their great tails and expanse of wing they make graceful descents. 



