66 Birds of Canada. 
ing marshes. General color, black, with purple 
reflections. Nests, in low bushes near the water ; 
eggs, four, bluish-white. It feeds upon the 
seeds of aquatic grasses, insects, and worms. 
Quiscalus versicolor—The Purple Grackle. 
The Purple Grackle arrives in Ontario about 
the middle of April. General color, steel-blue, 
with varied reflections of purple and bronze. 
Nests, in a tree in or near a marsh or pond; 
eggs, four, ight brown. Food consists of grubs, 
worms, and grains. These birds prove very 
injurious to the farmers in the fall, as they 
collect in large flocks and visit the corn-fields, 
destroying great quantities of grain. 
FAMILY CORVID-A. 
Sub-Family CORVINE.— The Crows. 
Corvus americanus —The Crow. 
This bird has a very unenviable notoriety. It 
is an enemy to the farmer, and very destructive 
to small birds, as it feeds upon their young. 
Agricultural societies should offer a premium for 
its destruction. 
Corvus corax—The Raven. 
This interesting bird has become very rare 
in Canada. A few specimens are occasionally 
