484 Cooke, Winter Birds of Oklahoma. [oct. 



and western forms could often be heard in the same field. It was fairly com- 

 mon in migration February 16, but was never common as negleda was in 

 the fall, and the migrants passed on north in the course of the next ten days. 

 A few additional individuals on March 8, were the last ones certainly 

 identified. 



54. Sturnella neglecta. Western Meadowlark. — A resident, 

 but much less common in summer than in migration. It began to flock in 

 the early fall and by September 22, these flocks contained 15-20 individuals; 

 the size of the flocks increased until on October 15 a flock of about 150 was 

 seen ; a little later the birds were most numerous in flocks of 200-500. Then 

 they rapidly decreased, until by Christmas only a few small parties of 3-6 

 remained sitting on the fences, silent and disconsolate as if debating 

 whether to continue south or to stay. The first spring song was heard 

 January 21 but there was not much increase in numbers until about 

 the middle of February. These migrants soon passed north leaving few 

 breeders remaining for the summer. 



55. Euphagus cyanocephalus. Brewer's Blackbird. — Nearly 

 all the time this was the most abundant Blackbird. That it sometimes 

 nested there was proved by the fact that in early September a scarcely 

 fledged bird was caught that must have been reared in the immediate 

 vicinity. The first flocks came about October 20 and increased so rapidly 

 that by November 6-8 when they were most numerous they swarmed 

 everywhere. Then they gradually decreased until by November 26 they 

 were less than one-third of their highest numbers, but even at this they 

 were as numerous as any other species, not excepting the Juncos and Tree 

 Sparrows. By Christmas the flocks had become still smaller, many small 

 parties of 6-10, were then seen and few flocks of over a hundred birds. The 

 spring ' song ' was first heard January 9 and the male that uttered it was 

 also going through the regular feather ruffling and swelling of the mating 

 season. Females at this time were rather scarce and even as late as Febru- 

 ary 26, when the winter numbers had been somewhat increased by migrants 

 the flocks were still at least three-fourths males. Additional migrants 

 came early in March and by March 15, the Brewer's Blackbird was the most 

 numerous it became any time in the spring. Nearly all left during the 

 next week, and the remainder began to pair. 



. 56. Quiscalus quiscula seneus. Bronzed Grackle. — Became 

 common October 20, and increased shghtly to November 8; then decreased 

 so rapidly that all were gone in the next four days. When most common 

 they were not one-tenth as numerous as Brewer's Blackbird. None 

 seen at any time through the winter, which is rather strange, considering 

 how much farther north this species winters nearer the Mississippi. 



57. Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. Purple Finch. — A party 

 of about 15, on January 12, were the first seen except a few two days previ- 

 ously; two were adult males in full breeding plumage, but no song was 

 heard from any of them. They never became common, but remained 

 through the rest of the winter until March 18, and were in full song by 

 March 15. 



