XXIT 
THE CROW-BLACKBIRD BRANCH 
(Icteride) — Continued 
Tue fourth branch of this family is of crow- 
blackbirds and grackles. They have a right to 
the name of blackbird, for they are quite black. 
At least they look so a little way off, but if one 
gets near and sees the sunshine on them, he will 
see that they reflect blue or green or purple, 
from their feathers. 
Then, too, like others of their family, they go 
in flocks, and they have a dignified walk on the 
ground. Some birds who are so social that they 
like to live in a crowd prefer to go a little apart 
to nest. But these birds make their rude, clumsy 
nests all close together. 
Blackbirds are fond of corn; who can blame 
them for that? Thousands of them have been 
shot because they eat it. But farmers who shoot 
them forget, or perhaps they do not know, that 
corn is not the only thing they eat. 
Insects as well as birds are fond of corn, and 
