295 



COMMON GROW BLACKBIRD. 

 Quiscalus qniscnla. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill stout and about as long as head; bill and feet black; iris 

 yellow. In life may be recognized by the V-shaped tail, so 

 conspicuous when flying. Hteadl and neck all well defined, 

 steel-blue, the rest of the body with varied reflections of 

 bronze, golden, green, copper and purple, the latter most con- 

 spicuous, especially on tail, the tail coverts and wings. 



^ewiaie.— Similar, but smaller and duller, with more green on 

 the head. 



Young.— Yery similar to female. The eyes of young birds are 

 brown. 



Male. — Measures about thirteen inches long and eighteen 

 inches in extent. 



.Hafeiiae.— Atlantic States, from Florida to Long Island. 

 Common summer resident in Pennsylvania. 



It can safely be said that of tlie numerous represen- 

 tatives of tlie avian tribe abounding tlirougliout tliis 

 great Commonwealtli, no species is more abundant or 

 familiarly known than is the subject of this article, 

 Early in the month of March this species arrives in 

 Pennsylvania in large-sized tlocks from their winter- 

 ing resorts, viz: Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and 

 other of the southern states. 



During mild winters, however, I have frequently ob- 

 served them, in limited numbers, in Chester and Dela- 

 ware counties; also in the county of New Castle, Dela- 

 w^are; correctly speaking, however, we cannot properly 

 regard these birds as winter residents of the Keystone 

 State. 



LEAD A NOMADIC LIFE. 



For a period of about one month following their 

 vernal arrival thev roam over the country, frequenting 



