244 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



5 Ma. Florida Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula aglveus. 



Range. South Atlantic and Gulf States. 



A smaller variety of the preceding; length about II 

 inches. Eggs indistinguishable. 



5 I I b. Bronzed Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula deneus. 



Range. North America east of the Rockies, breeding 

 from the Gulf to Hudson Bay and Labrador. Winters [Grayish white.] 

 in the southern parts of the United States. This is the most common and 

 widely distributed of the Crow Blackbirds and is distinguished by the brassy 

 color of the upper parts. 



5 I 3. Boat-tailed Grackle. Megaquiscalus major. 

 Range. South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Virginia. 



This handsome bird measures about 16 inches in 

 length, is iridescent with purplish and greenish, and 

 has a very long, graduated and hollowed tail. These 

 Grackles are very abundant residents along the Gulf, 

 breeding in large colonies in swamps, placing their 

 nests of weeds, moss, grasses, etc., in bushes, trees, 

 cane or rushes, but a few inches above the water, while 

 those in trees are sometimes 50 feet above the ground. 

 The eggs are laid in March, April or May, are from three 

 to five in number, and are a dull bluish or grayish 



white, streaked, lined, clouded and blotched with brown, black and gray; size 



1.25x .95. 



5l3a. Great-tailed Grackle. Megaquiscalus major 

 macrourus. 



Range. Mexico to southern and eastern Texas. 



This variety is larger than the last (length 18 

 inches) and the tail is very broad and flat. Like 

 the former, they nest in bushes, rushes or trees at 

 any elevation from the ground. The nests are 

 built of the same materials and the eggs are simi- 

 lar to those of the Boat-tailed Grackle, but larger; 

 size 1.28 x .88. 



[Grayish white.l 



[Grayish white.] 



FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. Family FRINGILLID/E. 

 514. Evening Grosbeak. Hesperiphona vespertina. 



Range. Western United States in the Rocky Mountain region; north to Sas- 

 katchewan; south in winter to Mississippi Valley and cas- 

 ually east to New England and the intermediate states. 



These are dull and yellowish birds, shading to brownish 

 on the head; with a bright yellow forehead and superciliary 

 line, black wings and tail, and white inner secondaries and 

 greater coverts. They breed in the mountainous portions 

 of their range, placing their flat nests of sticks and rootlets 

 in low trees or bushes. The eggs are laid in May or June 

 and are greenish white spotted and blotched with brown; size .90 x .65. Data. 

 Willis, N. M., June 26, 1901. Nest of twigs lined with rootlets and moss. Col- 

 lector, F. J. Birtwell. 

 5 I 4a. Western Evening Grosbeak. Hesperiphona vespertina montana. 



Range. Western United States, breeding in the mountains from New Mexico 

 to British Columbia. 



The nesting habits and eggs of this variety are the same as those of the pre- 

 ceding, and the birds can rarely be separated. 



[Greenish white.] 



