65 



'■'174. Corvus americanus Aiul. Amkrican Crow, 



Resident, common southward but not so numerous in winter northward. 

 Breed?. They sometimes congregate in immensf flocks in some locality in the 

 winter. Such places are called " roosts." Mr. Blatchley informs me there ia a 

 "roost" near Terre Haute. I have never seen one of these locations. Upon the 

 authority of an observing farmer near Indian;ipolis I learn of an interesting bit of 

 biographical matter which has lieretofore escaped my notice. A year or two ago 

 his tomato patch was infested with greiit numbers of worms and he was compelled 

 to wage relentless warfare against the unwelcome visitors. < >ae day he observed a 

 crow acting in an unusual manner Muiong his plants. Upon investigation he 

 found it was eating " tomato worm«." The rjext day more crows were .seen among 

 the vines, and for a few days the company increased until quite a number daily 

 sought his tomato plants, depending upon the ins-cts caught for their food. This 

 was continued until the " worms" were all killed. 



Family ICTERID^E. Bi.ackbird.s ; Orioles; etc. 



Gkxus DOLICHONYX Swaijjson. 



Bcbolink. 

 '175. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linn.). Bobolisk ; White-winged Blackbird. 



Known in various localities as " Ortolan," '• Reed-bird," "Rice-bird," Skunk 

 Blackbird, Bob Lincoln, Butter-bird ( .Jamaica \ Common summer resident 

 northward. Migrant southward in variable numbers. Has been noted as breeding 

 as far south as Indianapolis ( Dr. Brayton), Richmond and Muncie. I found it 

 on June 13, 1891, near the southern limit of Wayne County. The song of 

 the male in spring is the charm of the northern prairies and meadows. Little 

 would the uninitiated suppose ihe plain, quiet, brown bird of the stubble fields in 

 autumn the same who.»e happy voice proclnimed the pride he felt in his striking 

 coat of black and white, whose cheery notes and lively ways gave the hitherto 

 unattractive grass-land an interest before unknown. 



«ENDS MOLOTHRUS Swainson. 

 176. Molothrus ater C Brdrf.). Cowbird. 



Common summer resident. Generally gregarious. Lays its eggs in the nests 

 of other birds. Arrives from the South .sometimes early in March and remains 

 into November. 



5 — App. Hort. 



