Grackle SONG-BIRDS. 



Eggs : Indescribable, different sets wholly unlike ; the average 

 groundwork soiled blue or green, waved, streaked, and clouded 

 with brown. 



Range : Atlantic States from Florida to Long Island. 



The most familiar of the Blackbirds as well as the most 

 persecuted. Hated by the farmer for the alleged destruc- 

 tion of corn-fields while even at the harvest season, they 

 rid the soil of noxious insects and grubs and all the rest of 

 the year are either harmless gleaners or beneficial scaven- 

 gers, their gravest fault being that they sometimes destroy 

 and eat the eggs of other birds. 



The Grackles begin their upward migration early in 

 March, and some gray morning an immense flock will ap- 

 pear festooning the bare tree, in which they settle with 

 scintillating black, uttering at the same time a series of 

 unique and discordant cries which would put the wildest 

 banshee to shame. Hereabout they always choose an old 

 stumpy orchard as their nesting-place though many author- 

 ities consider that they nest preferably in conifers, Dr. 

 Abbot among others, giving a detailed account of their 

 preference, during a particular season, for pines, ignoring 

 the great beeches where they had previously colonized. 



In May of last year I had the pleasure of watching a 

 fine male Grackle sing his ludicrous love-song. Ludicrous 

 from my point of view, though doubtless from a Grackle's 

 standpoint it was exceedingly thrilling, and the lady to 

 whom it was addressed so considered it. 



It was the 15th of May, and the Grackle perched in my 

 blighted old ash tree, displaying his glistening coat to the 

 best advantage in the afternoon sun. The female was 

 coyly hidden in the dogwood below him. Suddenly he 

 spread his wings and tail, ruffed his breast, at the same 

 time rising on tiptoe, like a melodramatic tenor, and uttered 

 a high squeak expressive of his deep emotion. I expected 

 that the female would fly away in disgust, but no, at each 

 outburst she crept nearer and nearer and finally ventured 

 upon the same branch that held the frantic singer. 



The flocking of the Grackles in early September is one 

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