Bronzed Grackle. 75 



It is at the close of the nesting season that the gregarious 

 habits of the grackle are most manifest. Each little family 

 attaches itself to a larger company, and immense flocks are 

 formed by the consolidation of all parties in the neigh- 

 borhood. These larger hosts occasionally break up into 

 several smaller divisions, as their food habits call them 

 apart to supply their needs. In the bottom regions of the 

 Illinois Eiver, along the shores of the swamp-lakes, I have 

 seen flocks numbering many thousands settle to forage 

 among the reeds on the moist, dried ground. When they 

 were startled in flight by the report of a gun, or by other 

 causes, the roar of their wings could be heard plainly 

 across the lake, more than a quarter of a mile, and then 

 frequently only a part of the flock would take wing at 

 one time. These large flocks assemble chiefly at night- 

 fall, and are the combined forces in the surrounding 

 region ; for the numbers are augmented as night approaches 

 by new-comers which settle among the others feeding in 

 the swamp. The presence of an available food-supply is 

 the chief factor in the formation of these flocks ; for where 

 their food in season is widely and uniformly distributed, 

 the extraordinary flocks are not seen. The bronzed 

 grackles alone do not compose these immense hosts; for 

 other migrating blackbirds, such as the red-winged 

 species, the rusty blackbird, and Brewer's blackbird, swell 

 the hordes preparing to return to their southern winter 

 homes. 



In the prairie regions of central Illinois the grackles re- 

 main generally until the middle of October, and in fact 

 until the severe weather sets in, and they are frequently 

 seen in small troops in the early half of November, when 

 the weather has not been unfavorable. In the late fall 

 they frequent the woods along the water-courses and the 

 edges of ponds. When many are seated in the top of a 

 large forest tree, their loud metallic notes, uttered in con- 

 fusing time, form a pleasant jingling medley. Now and 

 then some particularly gifted performer excites our ad- 

 miration. Though the performance of one bird has been 

 described as being somewhat harsh, when a number of in- 

 dividuals are practicing in confused medley the efl'ect is 

 rather pleasing than otherwise. 



