OF NEW ENGLAND. 261 
a rather unmusical warble, hardly to be graced with the name 
of song. When united in chorus, their varied notes, which, 
though unmusical, have a certain cadence, being not disagree- 
able when heard at a proper distance, suggest a concert of 
wheel-barrows. The Crow Blackbirds are by no means silent 
thieves. 
(B?) PURPUREUS (var. ceneus). Bronzed Blackbird. Bronzed 
Grakle. 
(In Massachusetts, perhaps a migrant only.) 
(a). This variety (recently established, whether rightfully or 
not I cannot say) is described as follows by Messrs. Baird, 
Brewer, and Ridgway. ‘ Metallic tints rich, deep, and uni- 
form. Head and neck all round rich silky steel-blue, this 
strictly confined to these portions, and abruptly defined be- 
hind, varying in shade fom an intense Prussian blue to brassy- 
greenish, the latter tint always, when present, most apparent 
on the neck, the head always more olivaceous ; lores velvety- 
black. Entire body, above and below, uniform continuous 
metallic brassy-olive, varying to burnished golden olivaceous- 
bronze, becoming gradually uniform metallic purplish or red- 
dish violet on wings and tail, the last more purplish; primaries 
violet-black; bill, tarsi, and toes pure black; iris sulpher- 
yellow.” About thirteen inches long. Female smaller and 
less lustrous. 
(6). The Bronzed Blackbirds are thought to build in hollow 
trees, ‘a manner of breeding now known to be also occasional 
in the habits of the purpureus.” The eggs are like those of 
the Purple Grakle, exhibiting great variation. 
(c). The Bronzed Grakles do not probably differ in habits 
from the well-known Crow Blackbirds; at least no salient point 
of difference has yet been discovered. In New England, they 
are summer-residents in Northern Maine, but are only migrants 
in more southern portions, appearing near Boston in (April 
and) October. Their chief habitat consists of the Mississippi 
Valley and British Provinces. 
