58 THB BED-WINGED BLAGEBtBD. 



THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, OR TROOPIAL 

 (^Sturnus predatorius.^ 



Tras bird is common in all parts of North America. H« 

 is nine inches in length and fourteen in extent. The geno- 

 ral colour is glossy black, with a very splendid scarlet 

 marking, like a broad epaulette, on his shoulders. Hi« 

 habits will be learned from the following 



ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES. 



Mr. Wilson calls this bird the Red-winged Starling, and 

 gives us from his own observation the following curious 

 particulars of his winter habits : — 



The Red-winged Starlings, though generally migratory 

 in the states north of Maryland, are found during winter in 

 immense flocks, sometimes associated with the purple gra- 

 klee, and often by themselves, along the whole lower part« 

 of Virginia, both Carolinas, Georgia, and Louisiana, par- 

 ticularly near the sea-coast, and in the vicinity of large rioc 

 and corn-fields. 



In the months of January and February, while passing 

 through the former of these countries, I was frequently 

 entertained with the aerial evolutions of these great bodies 

 of Starlings. Sometimes they appeared driving about like 

 Ml enormous black cloud carried before the wind, varying 

 ^tB shape every moment ; sometimes suddenly rising from 



