338 GRAY LADY AND THE BIRDS 
Redwing, as known to us of middle and _ eastern 
North America, breeds in all parts of its United 
States and Canadian range, though it is more numerous 
by far in the great prairies of the upper Mississippi Valley, 
with their countless back-water sloughs, than anywhere 
else. It is in regions of this sort that the great flocks 
turn both to the fall-sown grain, as well as that of the 
crop in the ear, causing the farmers the loss that puts 
a black mark against the Redwings. Yet those that 
dwell east of this area, owing to the draining and ditch- 
ing of their swampy haunts being in much reduced 
numbers, are comparatively harmless. 
‘“‘ During the winter months the Redwings are distributed 
throughout the South, though stragglers may be oc- 
casionally seen in many parts of their summer range. 
Exactly why they begin the southward migration in 
September and end it with the falling of the leaves 
in late October, it is not easy to guess; for the food 
supply is not at an end, and they do not dread 
moderate cold, else why should they be in the front 
rank of spring migrants? 
‘The last of February will bring a few individuals of 
the advance-guard of males. In early March their calls 
are heard often before the ice has melted and the hylas 
found voice; yet in spite of this hurried return, the 
nesting season does not begin until the middle of May; 
and so for two months and more the flock life continues, 
and foraging, fighting, and general courting serve to kill 
time until the remote marshes show enough green drapery 
to hide the nests. 
“As a nest-builder the Redwing shows much of the 
