ICTERID^ — THE ORIOLES. 205 



In the District of Columbia, Dr. Coues found the Eusty Grakle an abun- 

 dant and strictly gregarious winter resident, arriving there the third week in 

 October and remaining until April, and found chiefly in swampy localities, 

 but occasionally also in ploughed fields. 



Mr. Audubon found these birds during the winter months, as far south as 

 Florida and Lower Louisiana, arriving there in small flocks, coming in com- 

 jjany with the Redwings and Cowbirds, and remaining associated with them 

 until the spring. At this season they are also found in nearly all the South- 

 ern and Western States. They appear fond of the company of cattle, and 

 are to be seen with them, both in the pasture and in the farm-yard. They 

 seem less shy than the other species. They also frequent moist places, 

 where they feed upon aquatic insects and small snails, for which they search 

 among the reeds and sedges, climbing them with great agility. 



In their habits they are said to resemble the Eed wings, and, being equally 

 fond of the vicinity of water, they construct their nests in low trees and 

 bushes in moist places. Their nests are said to be similarly constructed, 

 but smaller than those of the Redwings. In Labrador Mr. Audubon found 

 them lined with mosses instead of grasses. In Maine they begin to lay 

 about the first of June, and in Labrador about the 20th, and raise only one 

 brood in a season. 



The young, when first able to fly, are of a nearly uniform brown color. 

 Their nests, according to Audubon, are also occasionally found in marshes 

 of tall reeds of the Typha, to the stalks of which they are firmly attached 

 by interweaving the leaves of the plant with grasses and fine strips of bark. 

 A friend of the same writer, residing in New Orleans, found one of these 

 birds, in full plumage and slightly wounded, near the city. He took it 

 home, and put it in a cage with some Painted Buntings. It made no at- 

 tempt to molest his companions, and they soon liecame good friends. It 

 sang during its confinement, but the notes were less sonorous than when 

 at liberty. It was fed entirely on rice. 



The memoranda of Mr. MacFarlane show that these birds are by no means 

 uncommon near Fort Anderson. A nest, found June 12, on the branch of a 

 spruce, next to the trunk, was eight feet from the ground. Another nest, 

 containing one egg and a young bird, was in the midst of a branch of a pine, 

 five feet from the ground. The parents endeavored to draw him from their 

 nest, and to turn his attention to themselves. A third, found June 22, con- 

 tained four eggs, and was similarly situated. The eggs contained large 

 embryos. Mr. MacFarlane states that whenever a nest of this species is 

 approached, botli parents evince great uneasiness, and do all in tlieir power, 

 by flying from tree to tree in its vicinity, to attract one from the spot. They 

 are spoken of as moderately abundant at Fort Anderson, and as having been 

 met with as far east as the Horton River. He was also informed by the 

 Eskimos that they extend along the banks of the Lower Anderson to the 

 very borders of the woods. 



