Monthly Bulletin 11 



clement weather, and are found dead often either in the buildings or just 

 outside on the snow, where the size and dark color make them conspic- 

 uous. 



Information about the destruction of birds by the elements or their 

 natural enemies will be gratefully received. 



Edward Howe Forbush, 

 136 State House, State Ornithologist. 



Boston, Massachusetts, 

 February 14, 1918. 



WHAT A CRACKLE DID. 



Looking from the fifth story window, 69 Newbury Street, I saw a flock 

 of English sparrows on the wing attacking a bronzed grackle which was 

 flying with something large and light-colored in its mouth. It was over 

 the green grass plot midway between the back part of the Natural History 

 and the Tech buildings. When a few feet from the ground, the grackle 

 dropped the object which, by its fluttering, I saw was a live bird. He fol- 

 lowed immediately after and squatted over it with bill elevated toward the 

 threatening sparrows. These gave up the fight, however, and lighted in a 

 nearby tree. In a moment, the grackle began to peck at his pray, scattering 

 the feathers this way and that, when the bird gave another fluttering strug- 

 gle. I hastened down to within a few feet before the grackle gave a flying 

 jump and walked over near the corner of the Audubon rooms about fifteen 

 feet away. There he stood, and steadily watched me, and his light yellow 

 eyes were very conspicuous. 



I picked the bird up and it was dead, — a young, but full-fledged Eng- 

 lish sparrow. The right eye had been pecked at, and the right breast 

 muscles torn away. After moralizing a bit as to the grackle's right to the 

 sparrow, I dropped it and stepped to the sidewalk about ten feet away. 

 In a moment, the grackle, constantly watching me, paced in a half circle 

 to within two or three feet of the dead bird, when instantly (it seemed, from 

 the human standpoint, surreptitiously) he made a sudden side jump, caught 

 the dead bird in his bill, flew to the tree between the buildings, and began 

 to tear it vigorously. At this distance I could not see how he held it. 

 The instant the grackle flew to the tree, the sparrows followed, and I thought 

 from their impetuosity, that they were about to attack him. They did not 

 do this, however, but alighted in the same tree and watched. I returned to 

 my office, and, with a number of others, watched the performance for about 

 ten minutes, when the grackle dropped what was left of the carcass and 

 leisurely flew toward the Public Carden. The sparrows did not follow 

 this time, but after quickly inspecting the remains of the bird, flew away. 

 Two alighted for a moment on the ground; others just skimmed the sur- 

 face, while some flew directly away from the tree. 



I examined the remains of the bird later, and found its eyes had been 

 pulled out, most of the pectoral muscles torn away on one side, but only 

 partially on the other, the body ripped open, and most of the entrails re- 

 moved and probably devoured. I wonder the grackle, seemingly so ra- 

 pacious, had not eaten more of the bird. I talked with Dr. Brainard about 

 this and he explained it by saying, "I suppose he knew where he could get 

 more." John W. Dewis. 



