186 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



cious little songster is a rich, bright chest- 

 nut-red, with his tail and upper portion of 

 his body of a glossy black. His form is 

 slender and graceful, and his whole be- 

 haviour more sprightly and active, either 

 in the forest or the cage than that of any 

 other American bird. 



CHAPTER III. 



RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. Icterus prcedato- 

 rius. 



This very common and well known bird 

 is closely allied to both the preceding 

 species, and occupies nearly the same 

 position among the birds of America, as 

 does the Stare, or Starling, in the Orni- 

 thology of Europe. They move together, 

 after the breeding season has terminated, 

 in large and densely formed flocks, which 



