Troupials 



THE PERCHING BIRDS 



Omitting mention of several genera of the family, we come to a 

 genus, Quiscalus, of the third subfamily or group, rejoicing in a. 

 variety of names, such as crow blackbirds, grackles, and boat-tails, but as the first 

 two of these are liable to lead to confusion, it is better to adopt for them the French 

 name of troupials, which, however, is often applied to the family. In these the 

 beak is equal in length to the head, and somewhat crow-like in shape; the wings 

 are relatively short, the tail of varying length, and the feet long. The best-known 



THE PURPI.E TROUPIAI,. 



(Three-fifths natural size.) 



member of the genus is the purple troupial (Q. purpureus) of the Atlantic States,, 

 the other species being more southern in their distribution. It is a migratory 

 gregarious bird of very general distribution, building in a tree or bush, and making- 

 a large nest, usually of mud. The eggs are generally green or blue in ground 

 color, variegated with dark brown and purple markings. These birds at times inflict 

 great injury upon the crops, much to the annoyance of the agriculturist; but they 

 also destroy large quantities of injurious insects. They have a propensity for 

 destroying the eggs of other birds, especially those of the American robin or 



