904 EEPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



eaten. They eat a few peas, blackberries and cherries, as shown by the 

 returns. On the whole, they are excedingly beneficial. 



Good looks and good deeds with them go together (see article by 

 Prof. F. E. L. Beal, in Year Book U. S. Dept. of Agr. for 1895). The 

 Baltimore Oriole has been accused of damaging grapes, but examina- 

 tion of the stomachs did not seem to sustain the charge. Mr. Isham 

 Sedgwick, of Eichmond, Ind., informs me that for three succeeding 

 years, 1894-5 and 6, these birds damaged his grapes. Both he and 

 other members of his family saw the birds at work, and agree that they 

 neither ate the fruit nor sucked the juice of the grapes they pecked. 

 The bird would bite every grape in a bunch in 15 to 20 seconds. One 

 year they wholly or partially destroyed about 75 bunches of fruit. 

 Mr. Sedgwick once, while watching for the bird, saw it come and chase 

 and capture several bees, which were about grapes where the skin had 

 been broken. I suspect that is the clue that will reward the inquirer 

 with the cause of the Oriole nipping the grapes. Insects are attracted 

 by the grape juice in punctured fruit. The bird punctures the grapes 

 to draw more insects that it may obtain food more easily. 



116. GENUS SCOLECOPHAGUS SWAINSON. 



194. (509). Scolecophagus carolinus. (MULL). 



Rusty Blackbird. 



Adult Malt in Summer. Lustrous black, the reflections greenish. 



Adult Male in Fall and Winter. Similar, but with nearly all the 

 feathers skirted with warm brown above and brownish-yellow below, 

 frequently continuous on the fore parts. Female and Young Male. 

 Entirely rusty-brown above; the inner quills edged with same; a pale 

 stripe over the eye; below, mixed rusty and grayish-black; the pri- 

 maries and tail above, black; tail feathers of about equal length; bill 

 and feet, black. 



Length, 8.20-9.75; wing, 4.25-4.75; tail, 3.65-4.20. 



EANGE. North America, chiefly east of Eocky Mountains, from 

 Gulf Coast to Labrador, Keewatin and Alaska; accidental in Lower 

 California and Greenland. Breeds from northern New England, 

 northern New York and Manitoba, northward. Winters from Indiana 

 and Virginia, southward. 



Nest, in saplings and bushes near wet places; of twigs, grass and 

 moss; on a base of earth, lined with grass. Eggs, 4-5; light bluish- 

 green, blotched and spotted with different shades of brown and gray; 

 .98 by .72. 



