Birds of Oregon and Washington 5 7 



This is the Blackbird of the Pacific coast 

 from California northward. It is abundant ; and 

 nearly always, except when nesting, is to be seen 

 in flocks. The bird has marked peculiarities, in 

 the very white eye and in the impertinent chal- 

 lenge-note it utters to any one who happens to 

 intrude upon its nesting-place or to come upon 

 it while it is eating. When nesting, it will 

 saucily and unexpectedly dash against a man's 

 hat and pursue him for yards in the man's own 

 enclosure, while yet the nest has not been closely 

 approached. But these peculiarities add interest 

 and charm to the bird, in the eyes of the bird- 

 lover. 



His song is not strikingly beautiful, but has 

 its own special quality, which goes with the bird- 

 chorus to render enchanting a spring day. 



No doubt this Blackbird does some damage 

 to a farmer's crops for a time ; and it may need 

 watching and frightening off till the time for 

 harm is past. But let the farmer remember 

 that for the most part of the year these vigorous 

 birds, in pairs and in flocks, devour thousands of 

 bushels of harmful insects and worms, and quan- 

 tities of the seeds of weeds in our wide territory. 



