THE PERCHING BIRDS. 



137 



are ancient history, at least here in the Middle 

 States. 



It is a pleasant thing to hear these grakles twang 

 their loose-strung harps. They slightly uplift their 

 wings, spread their boat-shaped tails, and then utter 

 the strange sound that is neither song nor chirp, but 

 a metallic and sibilant sound combined. 



At times these birds may be said to be quite 

 aquatic in their habits. They run along the river- 

 shore hunting food of every kind, for all is good 

 grain that comes to their grist-mill, and have the 

 same teetering walk and tilting of the tail as the 

 sand-pipers exhibit when they walk upon the beach ; 

 but the grakles are good swimmers as well, and often 

 light upon the water, swim a short distance, and rise 

 up as easily as a duck ; and, too, they can dip down 

 gracefully and seize a morsel of food thrown over 

 from a passing steamboat. 



Nest of Acadian Flycatcher. 

 12* 



