258 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



England (chiefly Northwestern Maine ?) and in all the count- 

 ries beyond, except the Arctic regions* They winter in the 

 Southern States, where they are frequently met with in large 

 flocks. They reach Massachusetts in March, lingering into 

 April, and return in autumn, when they are most abundant in 

 October, though often seen in November. Whilst migrating, 

 they are gregarious, and also associate, from time to time, with 

 other blackbirds. They frequent wet places, particularly if 

 bushy, though, in fall, they may be observed in woodland, 

 often resting grouped in some low pine. They probably do 

 but little mischief to the farmers near Boston, though they 

 sometimes collect in ploughed lands. Their food consists of 

 seeds, insects, and Crustacea. To obtain these, they pass much 

 of their time upon the ground, where they walk in the manner 

 of their family, frequently jerking their tails. Though much 

 less often seen near the habitations of man than the Crow 

 Blackbirds, they are not veiy sl^ of man's approach, usually 

 flying, when disturbed, to some neighboring tree or bush. 



(d). While they are here, their ordinary note is a chuck like 

 that of the next species. Their song-notes are not, as I have 

 heard them, musical, but resemble those of the other black- 

 birds, particularly when united in chorus. The Rusty Grakles, 

 however, are comparatively very silent, though said to have 

 in their summer-homes a musical and agreeable note. Mr. 

 Samuels says that a female, whose nest he approached, on 

 flying " uttered a chattering cry, almost exactly like that of 

 the female Redwing when disturbed in a similar manner." 



VII. QUISCALUS 



(A) PUUPUREUS (var. purpureus?) Crow Blackbird. Purple 

 Gralde. 



(In Massachusetts, a common summer-resident in certain 

 localities.) 



(a). The following description, and that of ceneus, is quoted 

 (with abridgment) from Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ridgwny, 

 to show what distinctions these gentlemen believe to exist 

 between the typical Crow Blackbird and the variety ceneus. 



