ICTERID^ — THE ORIOLES. Jgj 



stacks. Dr. Suckley speaks of them as quite common west of the Cascade 

 Mountains, arriving from the South in March. In all the marshy places of 

 the entire West Mr. Ridgway met with this species and their nests in great 

 abundance. In all respects he found the western birds identical with the 

 eastern. Their nests were in low bushes in overflowed meadows. 



Donald Gunn found this species common in the Eed Eiver Settlements ; 

 and Itichardson met with them on the Saskatchewan, where they arrive in 

 May, but do not breed until the 20th of June. 



In New England this Blackbird is generally migratory, though instances 

 are on record where a few have been known to remain throughout the win- 

 ter in Massachusetts. They are among the earliest to arrive in spring, 

 coming, in company with the Eusty Grakle, as early as the lOtli of March. 

 Those which remain to breed usually come a month later. They breed 

 throughout New England, as also in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. 



It is equally abundant and resident in Arizona and Texas, and in the ad- 

 joining portions of Mexico. On the Eio Grande, Mr. Dresser found it very 

 abundant, breeding on the banks of the rivers and streams. In the winter 

 season these birds are found in immense flocks in the lower parts of Virginia, 

 both the Carolinas, and all the Gulf States, particularly near the sea-coast 

 and among old fields of rice and grain. Wilson states that once, passing, in 

 January, through the lower counties of Virginia, he frequently witnessed 

 the aerial evolutions of great bodies of these birds. Sometimes they ap- 

 peared as if driven about like an enormous black cloud carried before the 

 wind, varying every moment in shape. Sometimes they rose up suddenly 

 from the fields with a noise like thunder, while the glittering of innumerable 

 wings of the brightest vermilion, amid the black cloud, occasioned a very 

 striking effect. At times the whole congregated multitude would suddenly 

 alight in some detached grove and commence one general concert, that he 

 could plainly distinguish at the distance of more than two miles, and when 

 listened to at a distance of a quarter of a mile, the flow of its cadences was 

 grand, and even sublime. 



He adds that with the Eedwings the whole winter season seems one con- 

 tinued carnival. They find abundant food in the old fields of rice, buck- 

 wheat, and grain, and much of their time is spent in aerial movements, or 

 in grand vocal performances. 



Early in March tliese large assemblies break up. A part separate in 

 pairs and remain among the Southern swamps. The greater portion, in 

 smaller flocks, the male bird leading the way, commence their movements 

 northward. Late in April they have all re-established themselves in their 

 cliosen haunts, have mated, and are preparing to make their nests. In Penn- 

 sylvania this is done in May, in New England early in June, and farther 

 north a fortnight later. For their nest they invariably select either the 

 borders of streams or low marshy situations. These they usually place in 

 low bushes, such as grow in moist situations, among thick bunches of reeds, 



VOL. II. 21 



