BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. 



247 



the village centers of Arlington, Lexington, and Belmont, and along such of 

 our country roads as are well shaded by large elms. They also breed very 

 commonly in apple orchards, and their nests are occasionally built in wild 

 cherry trees or maples on the borders of woodlands. After the breeding sea- 

 son is over both old and young resort more or less freely to bush-grown pastures 

 and the edges of woods. On July 19, 1889, I saw upwards of forty collected 

 within the space of half an acre in Norton's Woods, and I have met with smaller 

 flocks at Rock Meadow and in the Maple Swamp. 



138. Euphagus carolinus (Mull.). 

 Rusty Blackbird. 



Very common transient visitor. One instance of occurrence in winter. 



SEASONAL OCCURRENCE. 



March 7, 1876, small flock seen, Watertown, W. Brewster. 



March 10 — May 8. 

 May 30, 1883, one female 1 taken, Cambridge, H. M. Spelman. 



September 12, 1868, one seen, Fresh Pond Swamps, W. Brewster. 



September 15 — October 31. (Winter.) 

 November 27, 1875, one taken, Watertown, M. A. Frazar. 



The Rusty Blackbird comes to us from the south in early spring about 

 the time when Pickering's hyla begins peeping. The tinkling notes of the 

 Blackbird are, indeed, ever associated in my mind with the bell-like call of the 

 hyla, for at this season the two sounds are usually heard together. Being 

 pitched on nearly the same key, it is not always easy to discriminate them, espe- 

 cially when a score of Blackbirds and several hundred hylas are exercising their 

 vocal organs at once. 



During its spring visit, which extends over a period considerably longer than 

 that of most northern migrants, the Rusty Blackbird is seldom seen far from 

 water. It occurs most regularly and numerously in the Fresh Pond Swamps and 

 about Rock Meadow, where it haunts half-submerged thickets of willows, alders 

 and button btishes, or dense young growths of maples bordering on pools and 

 ditches. Occasionally, however, it leaves these secure retreats to visit open 



' No. 671, collection of H. M. Spelman, 



