148 Birds Every Child Should Know 



swaying twig, and not being strong enough to 

 fly. Then what a tremendous fuss the parents 

 make! They cannot carry the youngster up 

 into the tree; they are in deadly fear of cats; 

 they are too worried and excited to leave him 

 alone ; but the plucky little fellow usually hops 

 toward the tree and with the help of his sharp 

 claws on the rough bark, flutters his way up 

 to the first limb. People who have brought 

 up broods of orphan orioles say that they are 

 imusually lively, interesting pets. The little 

 girl orioles will attempt, instinctively, to weave 

 worsted, string, grass, or whatever is given 

 them to play with, for of course they never took 

 a lesson in weaving from their expert mother. 



THE PURPLE AND THE BRONZED 



GRACKLES 



Called also: Crow Blackbirds 



You probably know either one of our two 

 crow blackbirds, similar in size and habits, one 

 with purplish, iridescent plumage, the common- 

 est grackle east of the Alleghanies and south of 

 Massachusetts, and the bronzed grackle, with 

 brassy tints in his black plumage, who over- 

 runs the Western country and from Massa- 

 chusetts northward. Both have uncanny^ 



