Widmann — A Preliminary Catalog of the Birds of Missouri. 165 



transit of tremendous flocks of migrants continues through the 

 first two weeks of April, during which time the ranks of summer 

 residents fill up, and nest-building begins. During all this time 

 of mating and nest-building, and imtil incubation begins, the 

 whole colony leave the breeding ground in the evening and go 

 to the common roost, preferably willows in the bottoms, to which 

 they come from all sides for miles to spend the night together. 

 As soon as the young are able to fly so far, about the first of July, 

 they also follow the parents to the common roost. While not 

 very popular with some agriculturists, they are well liked by 

 others, who appreciate their services when following the plow 

 or doing other useful jobs in cleaning the fields of vermin. With 

 their glossy plumage, elegant shape and graceful walk they are 

 quite an ornament in parks and on the lawns of the suburbanites 

 and, though not protected by law, and subjected to much perse- 

 cution, they still hold their own, thanks to a great deal of fore- 

 sight which permits them to increase their numbers two or three 

 fold before the end of July. They are very cautious in locating 

 their nests, which are not easily detected though bulky. As 

 incubation advances they become very quiet and when feeding 

 young are little seen in the immediate vicinity of the nest, but 

 approach it stealthily and bring the food from great distances. 

 The young grow very fast and the nest becomes too small a 

 week or more before they are able to fly, but having strong legs 

 they crawl out and perch on branches of the surrounding trees. 

 At this time the whole family becomes a nuisance. The ever 

 hungry youngsters keep up an incessant discordant clamor, and 

 the parents raise their not melodious voices as soon as somebody 

 approaches one of the trees in which their objects of solicitation 

 are hidden. Only one brood is raised, but if the eggs or newly 

 hatched young should be destroyed, as they sometimes are by 

 severe windstorms blowing down the bulky nests, another at- 

 tempt is made, which accounts for unusually late broods. If 

 all goes well, the Bronzed Grackles of St. Louis Co. leave the 

 breeding grounds entirely early in July not to return until the 

 next spring. Troops of them roam over the country, forming 

 large flocks which retire in the evening to common roosts used by 

 many flocks. Southward migration begins early in October, 

 when large flocks pass over, but the movement does not reach 

 its maximum before the middle of the month, when immense 

 numbers go to roost in the marshes with the Redwings. The 

 numbers vary daily but grow less toward the end of the month 



