302 



and feed on the giaiu tliey fiud scattered over the 

 ground, and they frequently make a meal on the cereal.^ 

 when in the milky state, or when it is cut and shocked. 



WIL/L, ETAT BIRDS AND EGGS. 



Crow Blackbirds destroy the eggs and young of a 

 number of species of small wild birds which nest in 

 parks, lawns and gardens. Like the Crows, they will 

 visit the meadows and grass fields and steal the eggs 

 or nestlings of Meadow-larks, Quail and other ground- 

 nesting species. They sometimes will catch young 

 chickens soon after they are hatched, and it is affirmed 

 that they will also eat the eggs of domesticated fowls. 

 The damage, howeyer, which Blackbirds do in the poul- 

 try yard is ver-y insignificant. 



THBY SOMETIMES EAT FISH. 



In Florida, the Blackbird, according to my investi- 

 gations, takes most kindly to a fish diet. In the spring 

 of 1885 I collected seventeen Blackbirds in Florida, 

 along the St. John's river. These seventeen examples, 

 obtained at various periods from March 1 to May 7, 

 showed generally an insect food preference — beetles, 

 principally. Six of the number, however, revealed un- 

 mistakable evidences of having taken as nourishment 

 fishes, as will be seen by this table: 



Locality. 



Food Materials. 



