THE RED WING BLACK BIRD. 



The Bird of Society. 



(5 HE much abused and persecuted 

 ^ Red Wing Black Bird is found 



J] throughout North America, 



-^ from the Atlantic to the Pa- 

 cific; and it breeds more or less abund- 

 antly wherever found. In New Eng- 

 land it is generally migratory, though 

 instances are on record where a few 

 have been known to remain through- 

 out the winter in Massachusetts. Pass- 

 ing, in January, through the lower 

 counties of Virginia, one frequently 

 witnesses the aerial evolutions of great 

 numbers of these birds. Sometimes 

 they appear as if driven about like an 

 enormous black cloud carried before 

 the wind, varying every moment in 

 shape. Sometimes they rise suddenly 

 from the fields with a noise like thun- 

 der, while the glittering of innumer- 

 able wings of the brightest vermillion, 

 amid the black cloud, occasion a very 

 striking effect. At times the whole 

 congregated multitude will suddenlv 

 alight in some detached grove and 

 commence one general concert, that 

 can plainly be distinguished at the 

 distance of more than two miles. With 

 the Redwings the whole winter season 

 seems one continued carnival. They 

 find abundant food in the old fields of 

 rice, buckwheat and grain, and much 

 of their time is spent in aerial move- 

 ments, or in grand vocal performances. 



The blackbirds make the maples ring 



With social cheer and jubilee ; 



The redwing flutes his o ka lee.— Emeeson. 



The Redwings, for their nest, always 

 select either the borders of streams or 

 low marshy situations, amongst thick 

 bunches of reeds. One nest was found 

 built on a slender sapling at the dis- 

 tance of fourteen feet from the ground. 

 The nest was pensile, like that of the 

 Baltimore Oriole. 



They have from one to three or more 

 broods in a season, according to 

 locality. 



In the grain growing states they 

 ofather in immense swarms and com- 

 mit havoc, and although they are shot 

 in great numbers, and though their 

 ranks are thinned by the attacks of 

 hawks, it seems to have but little 

 effect upon the survivors. 



On the other hand, these Black 

 Birds more than compensate the farmer 

 for their mischief by the benefit they 

 confer in the destruction of grub 

 worms, catterpillars, and various kinds 

 of larvoe, the secret and deadly enemies 

 of veofetation. It has been estimated 

 the number of insects destroyed by 

 these birds in a single season, in the 

 United States, to be twelve thousand 

 millions. 



The eggs average about an inch in 

 length. They are oval in shape, have 

 alight bluish ground, and are marbled, 

 lined and blotched with markings of 

 light and dark purple and black. 



BLACKBIRD. 



'Tis a woodland enchanted! 

 By no sadder spirit 

 Than blackbirds and thrushes, 

 That whistle to cheer it 

 All day in the bushes, 

 This woodland is haunted ; 

 And in a small clearing, 

 Beyond sight or hearing 

 Of human annoyance. 

 The little fount gushes. — LowELL. 

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