BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 247 



The abundance of American elms with their long swinging branches offers 

 a favorite nesting place for this bird in all the cities and towns of the County. 

 Their preference for the elms is curiously shown by their choosing even the 

 small newly planted trees with short stiff branches, and this, too, when there are 

 plenty of larger trees of other kinds close at hand. In Mr. William Brewster's 

 collection is a double nest, or two nests hung side by side like panniers from the 

 branch. Both are shallow and open above, and each contained four eggs. 

 This curiosity was obtained in 1885, through Mr. M. A. Frazar, from New- 

 bury port. 



J. A. Allen 1 speaks of a Baltimore Oriole at Ipswich whose song strikingly 

 resembled that of the Western Meadowlark. Maynard 2 says : "I have heard 

 a bird of this species that lived among the woods of the islands in Essex River, 

 where man is seldom seen, sing with a louder wilder note than usual, as if it was 

 influenced by the surrounding wildness and its proximity to the sounding sea." 



204 [509] Euphagus carolinus (Miill.). 

 Rusty Blackbird. 



Common transient visitor; March 14 to April 30; September 23 to 

 October 24. 



[511] Quiscalus quiscula (Linn.). Purple Grackle. It is probable that this species 

 occasionally wanders north with its close relative the Bronzed Grackle, especially during the 

 autumn. Mr. Dearborn 3 records that at Tilton, N. H., he shot nine out of a large flock of 

 Grackles on September 13th. 1902. Two of these were of the quiscula form, and probablv had 

 visited Essex County. As I have no specimens from the County, however, this bird must 

 remain on the doubtful list. 



205 [511b] Quiscalus quiscula aeneus (Ridgw.). 

 Bronzed Grackle ; Crow Blackbird. 



Abundant summer resident, occasionally winters ; March 6 to October 

 (winter) ; average date of arrival for nine years, March 17. 



Eggs: May 7 to June 1. 



1 J. A. Allen : Amer. Nat., vol. 3, p. 509, 1869. 



2 C. J. Maynard: The Naturalist's Guide, p. 123, 1870. 



■' Ned Dearborn : The Birds of Durham and Vicinity, p. 1 10, 1902. 



