DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 203 



2. BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, S. cyanocephaltjs. Dif- 

 fers from 1 in having a thicker Fig. 266. 

 bill, fig. 267; iridescence of head 

 violet ; tippings of feathers in au- 

 tumn, grayish; female not as 

 gray. Western U. S. and British 

 Provinces, during migrations 

 east to Dl., La., and casually to 

 S. C. 

 h. Grackles. Quiscalus. 

 Larger with long wings and 

 very long, somewhat graduated 

 tails, which can be made boat- 

 shaped ; large, curved bills ; black, CC, E, gf, 1. 1-6. 

 highly iridescent. Females a little smaller and duller; gre- 

 garious at all times. Nest in communities, on trees or bush- 

 es. Notes, harsh and grating, not unlike the creaking of a 

 rusty hinge ; alarm, a rather soft chirp. 



Fig. 267. 1. BRONZED 



GRACKLE, Q. aene- 

 us. 12.50 ; body above 

 and behind chest be- 

 low, uniform bronzy 

 or brassy without ad- 

 mixture of other tints ; 

 head, neck and chest 

 varying from greenish- 

 blue to purple, fig. 268. 

 Temperate N. A., east 

 of the Rockies, except- 

 CC, E, g, 2. ing the region occu- 



pied by 2 and 3 ; winters in the Southern States. The origin- 

 al form which, coming from the southwest, spread slowly 

 over the section which it now occupies after the close of the 

 glacial period, hence the most staple species. Migratory; 



