510 ORNIXnOLOGY. 



SCOLECOrnAGUS cyanocephalus. 



Brewer's Blackbird. 



Psarocolius cyanocephalus, Wagler, Isis, 1829, 758. 



Scolecophagtis cyanocephalm, Cabanis, Mus. Hein., I, 1851, 195. — Baird, B. N. 

 Am., 1858, 552; Cat. N. Am. B., 1859, No. 418.— CoorER,Orn. Onl., I, 278.— 

 COUES, Key, 1872, IGO; Check List, 1873, No. 322; B. N.W., 1874, 199.- B. 

 B. & E., Hist. N. Am. B., IF, 1874, 20G, pi. xxxv, fig. 3.— Denshaw, 1875, 321. 



Seldom seen there during summer, this Blackbird becomes one of the 

 most abundant species in the lower valleys during the winter season, when 

 immense flocks frequent the settlements and resort daily to the corrals for 

 their food, which at this time consists largely of the grain gleaned from the 

 fresh dung, or found scattered where the stock has been fed. They also 

 A'isit the slaughter-houses for their share of the offal, of which, however, 

 the Magpies deprive them of the greater portion. In the severer weather 

 small companies even came to the door-yards in Carson City, to feed upon 

 the crumbs and scraps of meat thrown from the tables. During the breed- 

 ing-season they were observed to have retired to the mountains, where they 

 frequented the trees in the lower canons, or on the lower slopes, the groves 

 of cedars and nut-pines being a favorite resort. On the 3d of June, 18G7, 

 we discovered the breeding-ground of a large colony of this species in a 

 grove of the above-named trees, among the mountains fronting the southern 

 end of Pyramid Lake. More than a hundred pairs had congregated there, 

 and almost every tree contained one or more nests, Avhile as many as three 

 containing eggs or young were sometimes found on a single tree. Each nest 

 was saddled upon a horizontal branch, usually near the top of the tree, or 

 at a height of twelve or fifteen feet from the ground, and was well concealed 

 in a thick tuft of foliage, the position being quite the same in every instance ; 

 most of them contained young birds, and when these were disturbed the 

 parents flew very near, exhibiting much concern, and uttering a soft chuck 

 as they hovered about us ; the maximum number of eggs or young found 

 in a nest was six, the usual number being four or five. In Parley's Park, 

 among the Wahsatch Mountains, they were also abundant during the breed- 

 ing-season, and although many nests were found, they were more scattered, 

 on account, we suppose, of the surrounding country being more generally 



