BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 123 



habitat is in the West ; its range eastward being about the 

 longitude of Ghicago. 



102. Sturnella magna, SWAIN. Meadow Lark, 

 " Marsh Quail." Resident; common in summer, but few 

 winter here. Breeds in old fields. Gregarious in autumn 

 and winter. 



103. Icterus Baltimore, DAUDIN. Baltimore Oriole, 

 " Golden Robin," " Fire Hang-Bird." Very common sum- 

 mer resident. Arrives from May 5th to 12th ; leaves about 

 the middle of September. Breeds, nesting generally on tall 

 trees. I have heard a bird of this species that lived among 

 the woods of the islands in Essex River, where man is 

 seldom seen, sing with a louder, wilder note than usual, 

 as if it was influenced by the surrounding wildness and 

 its proximity to the sounding sea. This is the only bird 

 that I have met with which will readily devour the tent 

 caterpillar. 



104. Icterus spurius, BON. Orchard Oriole, "Spu- 

 rious Oriole." Generally a rare summer resident, but 

 quite common in the spring of 1865 ; I saw a few in 1866. 

 Arrives about May 18th. Mr. Brewster says that he finds 

 a pair or two breeding every season. 



105. Scolecophagus ferruginous, SWAIN. Rusty 

 Grakle, " Rusty Blackbird." Common spring and autumn 

 migrant. Arrives from March 8th to 30th, remains into 

 April ; arrives from the North the last week in Septem- 

 ber, remaining into November. Very unsuspicious, and fre- 

 quents the bushes by the side of water. Generally seen in 

 small flocks, sometimes in company with the succeeding 

 species. 



106. Quiscalus versicolor, VIEILL. Purple GraJcle, 

 "Crow Blackbird." Common summer resident. Arrives 

 from March 1st to 20th ; remains into November. Breeds 

 hi communities, generally nesting in tall trees ; but I have 

 found its nest on the islands in the Essex River, on bushes 



