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511. Crow Blackbird. BRONZED GRACKLE. FR.—LE MAINATE BRONZE. Quisculus 
quiscula. L, 12. Plate XXVIII A. 
Distinctions. Large size, complete iridescent blackness, and straw-coloured eyes. 
Field Marks. The all black body, straw-yellow eyes, and size are good field marks. 
When flying the long tail is “boated’’, that is spread and turned up at the sides so that a 
cross section through it would be U-shaped. This is a most characteristic feature and 
easily seen in outline against the sky. 
4 N Shea Usually in communities in coniferous trees; nest a large bulky mass of grass 
and mud. 
Distribution. All of temperate North America east of the Rockies. The Bronzed 
Grackle occupies the Canadian section of the range overlapping that of the Purple south of 
our borders. 
SUBSPECIES. The species is divided into three subspecies. The Canadian bird is 
the Bronzed Grackle Q. gq. aeneus. The type form, the Purple Grackle, is a more southern 
bird that so far has not been taken in Canada, though it should be watched for along our 
southern borders. It can be recognized by the feathers of the back showing semicircular 
i iridescence instead of being an evenly metallic brass. The third form is found in 
Florida. 
The Crow Blackbird is a gregarious bird and likes to nest in company 
with its own kind. Evergreens are its favourite nesting trees and it often 
takes possession of ornamental rows edging gardens. With its metallic 
colours and yellow eyes it is a brilliant and striking bird. It walks with 
comical pomposity over the lawn, or uncouthly gesticulates while it emits 
unusually discordant noises. 
Economic Status. Through the months the bird is in Canada, insects 
constitute 29-7 per cent of its food and vegetable matter 70-3 per cent. 
The insects include useful predaceous species, but not in large numbers. 
The vegetable matter contains about 48 per cent of grain and domestic 
fruit, the remainder being wild fruit, mast, and weed seeds. Much of the 
_grain is waste, and the total cultivated fruit is only 2-9 per cent. On the 
whole the work of the Bronzed Grackle is beneficial but its numbers should 
not be allowed to greatly increase. As it is an inveterate nest robber it is 
a poor bird to have about the house if other more attractive species are 
desired. 
FAMILY—FRINGILLID®. SPARROWS, LINNETS, FINCHES, OR BUNTINGS. 
General Description. As represented in Canada this is generally an easily recognized 
family. It is composed of small birds, no Canadian species being over 8} inches in length— 
with unnotched conical bill adapted for cracking seeds, and the gape of the mouth usually 
decidedly turned down (Figures 50, 51, 52, p. 26). This latter feature is not equally well 
developed in all species and some of the American Starlings, as previously described (p. 156), 
exhibit it strongly; but having other marked characters they can be easily distinguished 
from the Sparrows. ; 
Distinctions. The bill is the best point of recognition; that of the ordinary domesti- 
cated Canary is of the characteristic sparrow type. The birds most likely to be mistaken 
for members of this family are the Bobolink (Figure 46, p. 26) and Cowbird (p. 157) of 
the previous family and the Tanagers, of the next one. These are all easily separated by 
their striking colours (see under specific headings.) The Tanagers show notches in the 
cutting edges and tip of the mandibles which make them easy to recognize (Figure 53, 
p. 26). In one group of Sparrows, the Crossbills, the tips of the bill cross each other 
(Figure 52, p. 26); in another, the Grosbeaks, the bill is very large and heavy (Figure 
50, p. 26). 
The sparrows form the largest and most important family of the 
Perchers, and are probably the most important family of birds in the world. 
They are found everywhere except in Australia and are represented in all 
