76 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 
thorax bare of legs, and the ‘meat’ eaten from the inside 
of the shell. 
_ “Watched a pair of grackles near the branch till some- 
time after sunset; in fact the moon was up and shining 
brightly. I thought they were going to roost on the oak 
at ‘Contentment’ gate, but a signal from one being given, 
they suddenly launched themselves into the air and soon 
disappeared on their way homeward. 
“Just at night the old grackle, with nest in my pasture, 
brought either a crawfish or a stick to feed her young or 
complete her nest; I must see the nest to-morrow. 
“June 10, 1890. I have two young grackles captured 
May 20th; they must be about a month old. They began 
to feed themselves yesterday by taking the bits of hard 
boiled egg and crawfish, blackberries and earthworms 
supplied them. They are interesting pets, much attached 
to me and always recognize my presence by flying against 
the bars of their prison, or screaming as loud as they 
can and shaking their wings and stretching their capa- 
cious jaws. 
“A set of three nestlings of Q. q. aglaeus were taken 
by me, two on the 4th, and one on the 5th of June. The 
nest was reported to me on the Ist by a little negro, who 
said that he saw the parents carrying material to build. 
On the third the little birds were heard crying in the 
nest and on the 4th two were captured by me and the 
third nestling, which had left the nest, was taken on 
the 5th. On the 4th, for positive identification, the par- 
ents were both shot. 
“On the morning of the 5th I heard a young bird com- 
plaining and calling in vain for its parents. It must be 
rescued; a boy was sought and hired to climb a large 
oak to catch this one, but search proved fruitless when 
the boy arrived. i 
“About an hour later the little starvling had wandered 
accidentally to my grove near the house, and perched up- 
on the top of a pine, filled the air with its piteous cries 
for food. Soon it flew from the tree upon the chimney 
of my house, then upon the roof, where :t pursued the 
pigeons with quivering wings and loud cries for food. 
