158 



BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MA* 



From the Rocky Mountains eastward the CRO\V BLACKBIRD, 

 either in the form of the PURPLE GRACKLE or the BRONZED 

 CRACKLE, is well known, in the North as a summer visitor and 

 in the Central and Southern States as a resident. Occasion- 

 ally a few winter in the realm of snow, and there is one 

 record where one bird even stayed in New Hampshire till 

 well into January. In New England they are only locally 

 distributed, usually selecting homes in or near villages. Else- 

 where in their range they are much better known. Like 



THE CROW BLACKBIRD. 

 (After Biological Survey.) 



others of their tribe, they are accused of various misdeeds : 

 the eating of grain is the worst of these. Throughout the 

 year more or less grain is taken, though in summer insects 

 receive the major part of their attention. All sorts of grain 

 as well as wild and cultivated fruits and many kinds of seeds 

 are eaten. 



Of the grains, Indian corn is taken in greatest amount. 

 It has been shown, by the examination of two thousand two 

 hundred and fifty-eight stomachs at Washington, that corn is 



