OF NEW ENGLAND. 261 



a rather unmusical warble, hardly to be graced with the name 

 of song. When united in chorus, their varied notes, which, 

 though unmusical, have a certain cadence, being not disagree- 

 able when heard at a proper distance, suggest a concert of 

 wheel-barrows. The Crow Blackbirds are by no means silent 

 thieves. 



(B?) PURPUREUS (var. ceneus). Bronzed Blackbird. Bronzed 

 Grakle. 



(In Massachusetts, perhaps a migrant only.) 



(a). This variety (recently established, whether rightfully or 

 not I cannot say) is described as follows by Messrs. Baird, 

 Brewer, and Ridgway. " Metallic tints rich, deep, and uni- 

 form. Head and neck all round rich silky steel-blue, this 

 strictly confined to these portions, and abruptly defined be- 

 hind, varying in shade from an intense Prussian blue to brassy- 

 greenish, the latter tint always, when present, most apparent 

 on the neck, the head always more olivaceous ; lores velvety- 

 black. Entire body, above and below, uniform continuous 

 metallic brassy-olive, varying to burnished golden olivaceous- 

 bronze, becoming gradually uniform metallic purplish or red- 

 dish violet on wings and tail, the last more purplish ; primaries 

 violet-black ; bill, tarsi, and toes pure black ; iris sulpher- 

 yellow." About thirteen inches long. Female smaller and 

 less lustrous. 



(b). The Bronzed Blackbirds are thought to build in hollow 

 trees, " a manner of breeding now known to be also occasional 

 in the habits of the purpureus." The eggs are like those of 

 the Purple Grakle, exhibiting great variation. 



(c). The Bronzed Grakles do not probably differ in habits 

 from the well-known Crow Blackbirds ; at least no salient point 

 of difference has yet been discovered. In New England, they 

 are summer-residents in Northern Maine, but are only migrants 

 in more southern portions, appearing near Boston in (April 

 and) October. Their chief habitat consists of the Mississippi 

 Valley and British Provinces. 



