124 The Wilson Bulletin— No. 109 



built in curled dock plants of the current season's growth. The 

 nest is usually placed in plants over water, but is often built 

 among the grass on the tops of the "bogs" or hummocks in sloughs, 

 or even among heavy weed patches in moist places. In the fall the/ 

 assemble in huge flocks and visit the grain and corn fields, often 

 damaging the tips of ears of corn when it is in the milk or roast- 

 ing ear stage. 



Meadowlark (Sturnella magna magna). 



Since I do not possess a musical ear and have never been 

 able to distinguish the eastern and western meadowlarks with 

 certainty, I include both forms under the common name. The 

 meadowlark is an abundant migrant and summer resident. It is 

 one of the earliest migrants, often braving the last snow storms 

 rather than go south again. First seen dates are from March 5 

 to March 25. It nests in pastures and hayfields and I think some- 

 times rears a second brood as I have found a nest under a bull 

 thistle in late July. I have several times found single eggs lying 

 upon the ground without any attempt at a nest. My father has 

 seen a meadowlark attack and drive away a Franklin's spermo- 

 phile, presumably from the vicinity of its nest. 



Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius). 



A tolerably common migrant and breeder. First seen dates 

 vary from May 8 to May 30. I have an abandoned uncompleted 

 nest of this species made of bluegrass blades, which was started 

 in a Scotch pin^ tree by a pair of these orioles, the male of which 

 had the yellowish plumage and black throat patch of the second- 

 year bird. The species departs very early in the fall. 



Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). 



This oriole is a very common migrant and summer resident. 

 It nests both in the farmer's groves and the shade trees of the 

 towns. My first seen dates range from April 30 to May 13. It also 

 departs very early in the fall. 



Rusty Blackbird (Euphagiis varoUntis). 



Specimen in the Smith collection. This species is a late fall 

 migrant, often in company with redwings and Brewer blackbirds. 

 I have two winter records of January 1, 1912, and January 12, 

 1913. In spring it usually migrates in flocks of its own kind only. 

 My first seen dates cover the period from March 20 to April 19. 



Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanoceplialus) . 



A fairly common migrant, often in mixed flocks in the fail. 

 At this season they follow the plow to pick up white grubs, angle- 

 worms and other insects, making identifications easy because they 



