BY EDWARD DOUBLEDAY. 285 



the tree, the king-bird attacked him ; when he again settled, 

 the king-bird perched close by his side. Now and then he 

 would dart furiously at his head, which the hawk would drop 

 to avoid the blow ; then he would perch again, and wait till 

 the hawk moved — the instant he flew, the king-bird was after 

 him, flying up above him, and then darting down upon him. 

 I watched them for a long time, and was then forced to leave 

 them. There are two smaller hawks, whose cry resembles 

 our sparroic-hawk. 



The only owl I have got hold of, is the Strix Virginiana. 

 I saw at Niagara a St7-ix cinerea, perched on a tail tree. 

 There are also at Trenton one or two other owls, which I 

 have seen on the wing in the evening. Strix Asio is found 

 there, according to Mr. Goodhere, 



Sturnella Ludoviciana, (Meadow lark,) common in the low 

 meadows at Trenton village. 



Icterus Baltimore. — Not common. A pair had a nest about 

 half-way to Trenton, in a very conspicuous spot in an orchard. 

 The males get on a high tree and sing — not much of a note — 

 as though they were talking to themselves; they look most 

 lovely as they fly. 



Icterus pecoris. — Very common now, in flocks of thirty or 

 forty, wherever any cattle are feeding. 



Icterus Ac/ripennls. — A most common bird in the low meadows, 

 but rare near the house ; common at Trenton, Norway, &c. 

 They are most amusing birds, especially when singing ; they 

 flutter their wings, set up the feathers on their heads, and 

 labour away as hard as they can, repeating a few short notes ; 

 but I cannot think there is much resemblance between their 

 song, and the words given in Nuttall. Now they are all in 

 autumn plumage, and puzzled me at first. I have seen no 

 species of the genus Quiscalus here, but have elsewhere seen 

 many individuals of Q. versicolor. 



Croiv (Corvus Americanus . Wagler). — Diflerent in flight, 

 as well as in habit, from our own. Very plentiful— eat the 

 fresh planted corn, carry ofl' chicken, &c. ; in fact, do all that 

 our crows and rooks do together; seldom form broad flocks 

 like our rooks. 

 ^ Blue jay {Garrulus cristatus). — Very common. Come after 

 the fresh planted corn. Often scream most terribly, some- 

 times much like the cat-bird. 



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