30 THE RUSTY BLACKBIRD. 



cunning and heartsome too, for the bird to select with thoughtful brotherly 

 kindness, a morsel of food, and hop over toward the clamoring stranger and 

 drop it in his mouth ; after this to stand back as if to say, "There, baby ! how 

 did you like that?" This trait was not shown by a chance exhibition alone but 

 became a regular habit, which was still followed when the older bird had at- 

 tained to fly-catching. It upset all one's notions about instinct, and made one 

 think of a Golden Rule for birds. 



No. 12. 



RUSTY BLACKBIRD. 



A. O. U. No. 509. Scolecophagus carolinus (Mull.). 



Synonyms. RUSTY CRACKLE; THRUSH BLACKBIRD. 



Description. Adult male in breeding plumage : Uniform glossy black, 

 with bluish green reflections ; iris pale straw. At other seasons the plumage 

 bears rufous or "rusty" tips above, especially anteriorly, and rufescent or buffy 

 tips below, in varying proportions ; a light line also over the eye. The full nuptial 

 dress is seldom seen in Ohio, but may be found by narrowly observing the latest 

 migrants in spring. Adult female in breeding plumage : Blackish slate, lustrous 

 above, duller below. At other seasons the general cast of plumage is lighter, 

 and the overlay of rusty or buffy is similar to that of the male. Adult male, 

 length 9.00-9.60 (228.6-243.8) ; wing 4.49 (114.) ; tail 3.68 (93.5) ; bill .76 (19.3). 

 Female smaller. 



Recognition Marks. Robin size; plumage usually rusty-tinged during mi- 

 grations in Ohio. If in full plumage they are the only pure black birds of the 

 size. In the common flocks of "blackbirds" in early spring, the high whistling 

 notes belong to the Rustics. 



Nesting. Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, of sticks and coarse grasses held 

 together with mud, lined with fine grasses and rootlets, placed in bushes or high 

 in coniferous trees. Eggs, 4-7, grayish or pale green, speckled and mottled 

 with purples or reddish browns, and without streaks or lines. Av. size, i.oo x .76 

 (25.4 x 19.3). 



General Range. Eastern and northern North America, west to Alaska and 

 the Plains. Breeds from northern United States northward. Winters from Ken- 

 tucky and Tennessee southward. 



Range in Ohio. Abundant spring and fall migrant. Winters sparingly in 

 southern portion. 



THE great roving hordes of "Blackbirds" in early spring are likely to con- 

 tain at least a sprinkling of "Rustics," but usually they are not so eager to press 

 on as are the impulsive Redwings, and so they fall out of the ranks by dozens 

 and scores. Succeeding platoons composed of these birds alone keep arriving 



