IQQ NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



of this bird renders it easily recognizable from the other species, where they 

 are all seen together. Mr. Eidgway is of the opinion that the notes of the 

 white-shouldered species differ very considerably from those of the two other 

 Blackbirds. 



Dr. Heermann found this a very abundant bird in California. He states 

 that during the winter of 1852, when hunting in the marshes of Suisan 

 Valley, he had often, on hearing a dull, rushing, roaring noise, found that it 

 was produced by a single flock of this species, numbering so many thousands 

 as to darken the sky for some distance by their masses. In the northern 

 part of California he met with a breeding-place of this species that occupied 

 several acres, covered with alder-bushes and willow, and was in the immedi- 

 ate vicinity of water. The nests, often four or five in the same bush, were 

 composed of mud and straw, and lined with fine grasses. The eggs he de- 

 scribes as dark blue, marked with lines and spots of dark umber and a few 

 light purple dashes. Dr. Heermann, at different times, fell in with several 

 other breeding-places of this species, similarly situated, but they had all 

 been abandoned, from which he inferred that each year different grounds 

 are resorted to by these birds for the purposes of incubation. 



Dr. Kennerly obtained a specimen of this bird on the Colorado Eiver, in 

 California, December, 1854. Dr. Cooper is of the opinion that it is, never- 

 theless, a rare species in that valley. The latter found them the most abun- 

 dant species near San Diego and Los Angeles, and not rare at Santa Barbara. 

 North of the last place they pass more into tlie interior, and extend up as 

 far as Klamath Lake aud Southern Oregon. 



They are to be seen in considerable flocks even in the breeding-season. 

 Their song. Dr. Cooper states, is not so loud and is more guttural than are 

 those of the other species. Their habits are otherwise very similar, and they 

 associate, in fall and winter, in immense flocks in the interior, though often 

 also found separate. 



These birds were first obtained by Mr. Nuttall near Santa Barbara, in the 

 month of April. They were very common there, as well as at Monterey. 

 He observed no difference in their habits from those of the common Red- 

 wing, except that they occurred in much larger flocks and kept apart from 

 that species. They were seldom seen, except in the near suburbs of the 

 towns. At that time California was in the possession of Mexico, and its 

 inhabitants were largely occupied in the slaughter of wild cattle for the sake 

 of the hides. Mr. Nuttall found these birds feeding almost exclusively on 

 the maggots of the flesh-flies generated in the offal thus created. They were 

 in large whirling flocks, and associated with the Ifolothri, the Grakles, the 

 Eed-wings, and the Yellow-headed Blackbirds. They kept up an incessant 

 chatter and a discordant, confused warble, much more harsh and guttural 

 than even the notes of tl^e Cow Blackbird. 



Two eggs of this species, obtained by Dr. Heermann in California, and 

 now in my cabinet, measuring an inch in length by .67 of an inch in breadth, 



