76 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



thorax bare of legs, and the 'meat' eaten from the inside 

 of the shell. 



"Watched a pair of grackles near the branch till some- 

 time after sunset ; in fact the moon was up and shining 

 brightly. I thought they were going to roost on the oak 

 at 'Contentment' gate, but a signal from one being given, 

 they suddenly launched themselves into the air and soon 

 disappeared on their way homeward. 



"Just at night the old grackle, with nest in my pasture, 

 brought either a crawfish or a stick to feed her young or 

 complete her nest; I must see the nest to-morrow. 



"June 10, 1890. I have two young grackles captured 

 May 20th ; they must be about a month old. They began 

 to feed themselves yesterday by taking the bits of hard 

 boiled egg and crawfish, blackberries and earthworms 

 supplied them. They are interesting pets, much attached 

 to me and always recognize my presence by flying against 

 the bars of their prison, or screaming as loud as they 

 can and shaking their wings and stretching their capa- 

 cious jaws. 



"A set of three nestlings of Q. q. aglaeiis were taken 

 by me, two on the 4th, and one on the 5th of June. The 

 nest was reported to me on the 1st by a little negro, who 

 said that he saw the parents carrying material to build. 

 On the third the little birds were heard crying in the 

 nest and on the 4th two were captured by me and the 

 third nestling, which had left the nest, was taken on 

 the 5th. On the 4th, for positive identification, the par- 

 ents were both shot. 



"On the morning of the 5th I heard a young bird com- 

 plaining and calling in vain for its parents. It must be 

 rescued; a boy was sought and hired to climb a large 

 oak to catch this one, but search proved fruitless when 

 the boy arrived. 



"About an hour later the little starvling had wandered 

 accidentally to my grove near the house, and perched up- 

 on the top of a pine, filled the air with its piteous cries 

 for food. Soon it flew from the tree upon the chimney 

 of my house, then upon the roof, where Tt pursued the 

 pigeons with quivering wings and loud cries for food. 



