BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 123 



habitat is in the West ; its range eastward being about the 

 longitude of Chicago. 



102. Sturnella magna, Swain. — Meadow Lark, 

 " Marsh Quail." Resident; common in summer, but few 

 winter here. Breeds in old fields. Gregarious in autumn 

 and winter. 



103. Icterus Baltimore, Daudin. — Baltimore Oriole, 

 " Golden Robin," " Fire Hang-Bird." Very common sum- 

 mer resident. Arrives from May 5th to 12th • leaves about 

 the middle of September. Breeds, nesting generally on tall 

 trees. I have heard a bird of this species that lived among 

 the woods of the islands in Essex River, where man is 

 seldom seen, sing with a louder, wilder note than usual, 

 as if it was influenced by the surrounding wildness and 

 its proximity to the sounding sea. This is the only bird 

 that I have met with which will readily devour the tent 

 caterpillar. 



104. Icterus spurius, Bon. — Orchard Oriole, "Spu- 

 rious Oriole." Generally a rare summer resident, but 

 quite common in the spring of 1865 ; I saw a few in 1866. 

 Arrives about May 18th. Mr. Brewster says that he finds 

 a pair or two breeding every season. 



105. Scolecophagus ferrugineus, Swain. — Rusty 

 GraHe, " Rusty Blackbird." Common spring and autumn 

 migrant. Arrives from March 8th to 30th, remains into 

 April ; arrives from the North the last week in Septem- 

 ber, remaining into November. Very unsuspicious, and fre- 

 quents the bushes by the side of water. Generally seen in 

 small flocks, sometimes in company with the succeeding 

 species. 



106. Quiscalus versicolor, Vieill. — Purple Gral-le, 

 "Crow Blackbird." Common summer resident. Arrives 

 from March 1st to 20th ; remains into November. Breeds 

 in communities, generally nesting in tall trees ; but 1 have 

 found its nest on the islands in the Essex River, on bushes 



