THE CROW BLACKBIRD. 113 



delight the eye. Blue, emerald, purple, and bronze, all 

 gleam and flash interchangeably in the sunshine. How 

 quick are those light-golden eyes to detect grubs, beetles, 

 chrysalids and worms! The male being about 12 inches or 

 more in length, the female is a good deal smaller, and for 

 the most part of a plain black, being wholly without the 

 lustre and changeableness of the male. In early spring 

 they often gather in quite large flocks, chattering and 

 whistling in a manner thoroughly noisy, if not somewhat 

 musical. 



Their nest made early in May, if not already in April, 

 and a rather bulky structure of sticks and coarse hay, more 

 particularly the latter, often cemented with mud, lined with 

 fine hay and some horse-hair is placed either low or high in 

 a tree, an evergreen or Lombardy poplar being preferred; 

 and if the tree is large, it may contain a number of nests. 

 Wilson says: "A singular attachment frequently takes place 

 between this bird and the Fish Hawk. The nest of this 

 latter is of very large dimensions, often from three to four 

 feet in breadth, and from four to five feet high; composed, 

 externally, of large sticks, or fagots, among the interstices 

 of which sometimes three or four pairs of Crow Blackbirds 

 will construct their nests, while the Hawk is sitting or 

 hatching above. Here each pursues the duties of Incubation 

 and of rearing its young; living in the greatest harmony, 

 and mutually watching and protecting each other's property 

 from depredators." In the south Audubon says the nests of 

 these Blackbirds are generally placed in holes of trees 

 often in a deserted Woodpecker's nest. The same manner 

 of nesting has recently been reported from some parts of 

 the north. 



The eggs of the Crow Blackbird, some 1.20 X .82, and 

 four or five in number, are generally greenish, sometimes 

 s 



