332 INSESSORES. 



thousands of larvae in meadows, is a little too fond of scratching 

 up the seeds of grain, and of plucking up young corn; it has 

 been known even to kill and eat small birds. The male is 

 about eleven inches in length. 



THE RED-WINGED STARLING, S. prcedatorius, (Lat. plunder, 

 ing,) ranges from Labrador to Mexico, north of Maryland 

 being migratory. From its strong predilection for corn or 

 maize, and its extensive depredations upon the young ears, it has 

 acquired a bad reputation, having among other names, that of 

 CORN or MAIZE THIEF. A remarkable characteristic of this 

 bird is, that the male is nearly two inches longer than the female, 

 and of proportionate magnitude. 



THE BOAT- TAILS are American Birds, and the largest of the 

 Starling family, and might easily be mistaken for Crows. Their 

 t ills are so concave on their upper sides as to resemble a boat, 

 whence the sub-family name, ScaphiduriiKZ, (Gr. skaphis, a 

 boat; oura, a tail.) The typical birds of this group, (Scaplii- 

 dura?) are found in South America. 



Another genus, sometimes included in the Boat-tail Birds, is 

 Quiscalus, which has several representatives in the United States. 

 Among these are (1) the Boat-tailed Grackle, or Great Crow Black 

 Bird, Q. major, (Lat. greater,) about sixteen inches in length, and 

 found in the Southern States, particularly on the sea-coast. The 

 food of this species consists, principally, of the small crabs, called 

 * fiddlers;" (2.) the Purple Grackle, or Common Crow Black- 

 bird, is a constant resident in the Southern States, but migrating 

 very far North. It appears in the State of New York about 

 the middle of April, and is notorious, and dreaded for its attacks 

 on Indian Corn ; (3,) the Rusty Crow Blackbird, Q.ferrugineus, 

 (Lat. iron-colored,) of similar character and habits with the pre- 

 ceding, but ranging still farther North. 



The sub-family, Lamprotornina, (Gr. lamprotes, splendor; 

 onus, a bird,) includes Grackles found in Asia and Africa, in 

 which they represent the Boat-tails of America. 



THE ORIOLES, or Hang-Nests, Icterus, (Gr. Yellow Thrush,) 

 sub-family, Icterina, are a numerous and beautiful group 

 of American Birds, of which the Baltimore Oriole, /. Baltimore, 

 is the most noted. This is sometimes called Golden Oriole, 

 Golden Robin ; and also Fire-Bird, Fire Hang-Bird, from 

 the bright orange seen through the green leaves, and resem- 

 bling a flash of fire; but more generally, the Baltimore Bird ; 

 its colors of black and orange, resembling those of the arms 

 or livery of Lord Baltimore, formerly proprietary of Mary- 

 land. The materials which this bird uses for making its nest, 



