BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 277 



the breast, extending some distance down on the median line 

 and a somewhat hidden space round the anus, yellowish; a con- 

 spicuous white patch at the base of the wing formed by the 

 spurious feathers, interrupted by the black alula; female 

 smaller, browner; the yellow confined to the under parts and 

 sides of the head, and a superciliary line; a dusky maxillary 

 line; no white on the wing. 



Length (of male), 10; wing, 5.60; tail, 4.50. 



Habitat, western America from Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin 

 and north Red river to California, south to Mexico. 



AGEL4ITJS PHCENICEUS (L.). (498). 

 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



The Red- winged Blackbirds are an exceptionally abundant 

 species here. They reach the southern counties about the 20th 

 of March and the principal parts of the State about the 1st of 

 April. They come in small flocks generally and some springs 

 a single bird will appear several days in advance of the parties 

 to follow. They take to the reeds, and especially the cat-tails 

 of which they seem to be very fond, obtaining, doubtless, a 

 portion of their food from them. The males sing their brief, 

 melodious songs from the tops of the trees and bushes, which 

 being devoid of leaves, makes them conspicuous objects in 

 their black mantles with scarlet epaulets. Their notes are 

 limpid, sweet and resonant, and are amongst the cheeriest of 

 the early spring. When not singing he keeps a constantly 

 repeated check, check, check, from v^hich he frequently abruptly 

 presses into the liquid utterance of o-kle-ree-e-e-e-ee; o-kle-ree- 

 e-e-e-ee, during which his wings and tail are suddenly spread 

 and he bows and sidles as if receiving a regal introduction to 

 somebody allied to the queen. The males precede the females 

 about ten days. Mating immediately follows the arrival of the 

 latter and by the 10th of May they engage in building their 

 nests in communities in the meadows and swamps. Tussocks 

 of grass or lo'w bushes standing in water are preferably 

 chosen, but proximity to the water will answer. Coarse 

 grasses are interlaced and woven into a strong, deep nest 

 which involves the stalks of grass and twigs, upon which they 

 are built. It is lined with fine grasses and fibrous roots and 

 generally receives from four to five eggs of a light blue color. 

 They bring out two broods, and soon after the last is able to 

 fly strongly, gather into flocks. As the season advances these 

 flocks aggregate into larger ones until their numbers often 

 exceed all computation, feeding upon grain fields and wild 



