WILD LIFE OF ORCHARD AND FIELD 



in the meadows, also, where tufts of rank grass 

 flourish upon islands formed by the roots of many 

 previous years' growth, and stunted alders and 

 cranberry-bushes shade the black water, are nearly 

 always sure to be the home of a few pairs, so that 

 they become well known to everybody, whether 

 inland or alongshore, as soon as the ice melts. 

 Such extensive marshes as I have just described 

 are, however, the great centres of blackbird pop- 

 ulation, where they breed, where they collect in 

 great hordes of young and old as the end of the 

 season approaches, and whence they repair to 

 the neighboring fields of Indian corn to tear open 

 the husks and pick the succulent kernels. In 

 September I have seen them literally in tens of 

 thousands wheeling about the inundated wild- 

 rice fields bounding the western end of Lake Erie, 

 their black backs and gay red epaulets glistening 

 in the sun ''like an army with banners." The 

 Canadian fishermen call them ''officer-birds," and 

 the impression of an army before him is always 

 strong upon the beholder as he gazes at these 

 prodigious flocks in autumn. It is extremely 

 interesting to watch the swift evolutions of their 

 crowded ranks, and observe the regularity and 

 concert of action which govern their movements. 



^35 



