^°^i9lf ^"^1 Smyth, Birds of Montgomery County, Va. 519 



Arrives as early as November 9 and generally leaves in late March, about 

 the 20th. Two seen as late as April 14, in 1905 I have collected speci- 

 mens at various times from their first arrival and on, towards the end of 

 their staj', throughout a number of years, and all have been the smaller 

 and paler form, praticola. 



97. Cyanocitta cristata cristata. Blue Jay. — Like the Whip- 

 poor-will, rarely seen in the valley in which Blacksburg lies, though common 

 in a valley to the southwest, and in another to the northeast where the 

 Roanoke River flows. I have eight records only, for the college campus, 

 in April, May, August and October. 



98. Corvus corax principalis. Northern Raven. — I saw a pair 

 of Ravens on the summit of Whitetop Mt. in Washington Co., Va., in 

 September; this is the highest mountain in the State, and reaches the 

 Balsam zone. On May 9, 1903, while collecting in a ravine near Blacks- 

 burg, 1 heard a hoarse, crow-like ' quonk,' and looking up, saw a Raven 

 pursued by two Crows. Here there was no question of identity, as the 

 size, shape, and cry of the Raven were in marked contrast with the char- 

 acters of the noisy, smaller, aggressive Crows. 



99. Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos. Crow. — In the 

 sense that Crows are always here, I suppose this bird can be called a resi- 

 dent, though I am unable to say whether the breeding birds go south in 

 winter, and are replaced by migrating northern birds, as is the case with 

 Robins. I think the same birds are here throughout the year. They pair 

 in late March and are building by April 9. 



100. Dolichonyx oryzivorous. Bobolink; Rice-bird. — A spring 

 and fall migrant; very constant in date of spring arrival, coming as early 

 as April 25, or at the latest, April 29, and remaining until May 14. The 

 males arrive first and are in song throughout their short stay ; in some years 

 the females are as abundant, though usually the small flocks contain nearly 

 all males. They are seen all over the open campus, and are usually known 

 as ' May-birds.' In the fall, they arrive, in the Rice-bird plumage, about 

 Spetember 9 and are then very fat, and frequently in some numbers, and 

 there is a succession of small flocks until September 22, when all depart. 

 During this period, the 'clink' of passing birds can be heard throughout 

 the night. 



101. Molothrus ater ater. Cowbird. — I have noted flocks of this 

 species, of mixed sexes, from January 19 through April 23; most common 

 throughout March. 



102. Agelaius phoeniceus phceniceus. Red-winged Blackbird. — 

 February 22 seems picked out as the usual date for the arrival of the Red- 

 wing, in small flocks of males, the females arriving later, and apparently 

 not abundant until April, when mating begins. First nests observed May 

 13; eggs on May 19, and young flying by June 10. 



103. Sturnella magna magna. Meadowlark.— Resident. Very 

 tame on the campus, where they are protected and are found in the hardest 

 winter weather, seeking open places over the pipe and sewer lines where the 



