BIRDS OF MARSHALL COUNTY 57 



These were exceptional, however, as the nests were usually swung 

 far out on the branches of the tallest trees. 



109. Euphagus carolinus. Rusty Blackbird. The Rusty black- 

 birds were a common migrant from March 14 to May 11 and 

 August 27 ( ?) to November 14. They usually associated with the 

 immense flocks of red wings and grackles which roamed the 

 country in fall and consequently their fall movements were difficult 

 to detect. 



110. Quiscalus quiscula ccnens. Bronzed Grackle. An abun- 

 dant summer resident from March 26 to November 8. In spring 

 and fall migrations the grackles appeared in immense flocks often 

 mingled with other species of blackbirds. They showed a marked 

 preference for the groves about farm buildings and the writer 

 never found them nesting in any other situation except for a few 

 pairs found in the cemetery and on the lawns about town where 

 conifers could be found. A nest containing four eggs was found 

 on June 6, 1913. Twenty nests which were or had recently been 

 occupied were found in one grove on May 31, 1915, and five 

 occupied nests were seen in another grove .on July 5, 1915. No 

 detailed record was kept of others, but the birds were found 

 nesting in practically every coniferous grove visited in this region. 



As soon as the young are able to fly they commence to gather 

 in flocks which roam the timber for a time and then begin to 

 appear on the meadow lands. The first flocks of this kind were 

 noted on July 5, 1914, and on June 22, in 1915. 



111. Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina. Evening Grosbeak. 

 This species is included on the statement of Leonard Kellogg who 

 reported seeing one in the Marshalltown cemetery on December 

 23, 1916. His description of the apperance and behavior of the 

 bird are clear and accurate and I have no hesitation in adding it to 

 the list. 



112. Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. Purple Finch. The 

 purple finch was a tolerably common spring and fall migrant from 

 April 13 to May 19 and October 17 to November 23. It also ap- 

 pears as an uncommon winter resident. An adult male was found 

 lying dead on the ice of Linn creek on January 13, 1914, and 

 brought to me. A flock of four were feeding in a clump of iron- 

 wood trees (Ostrya virginicana) and one was collected. Its crop 

 contained twenty-six seeds of ironwood. 



113. Acanthis linaria linaria. Redpoll. Although the writer 

 searched every winter for the redpoll he failed to find it. In the 

 fall of 1916 Leonard Kellogg wrote that he had found them at 



