324 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [1895 



Scolecophagus carolinus (509). Busty Blackbird. 

 Very common during migration ; quite a number winter in 

 tidewater Maryland. First noted in a large flock on September 

 30 ('94), the last were taken May 7 ('88, Resler). As a rule, 

 they unite with flocks of Cowbirds, Red -winged Blackbirds or 

 Purple Grackles, but sometimes they are seen in flocks by 

 themselves. 



Quiscalus quiscula (511). Purple Grackle. 



Resident ; it takes remarkably severe weather to drive this 

 species from tidewater Maryland in winter. In the uplands 

 they are numerous from March 1 ('95) to July 20 ('95) and 

 not uncommon until early in November. Nests with eggs are 

 recorded from April 28 ('94, Tylor) in Talbot County and from 

 May 6 ('92) in Baltimore County, until June 8 ('84). Sets are 

 2 of 2, 5 of 3, 5 of 4, 13 of 8, and 4 of 6. Nesting any- 

 where, a bunch of cedars seems to be preferred. The nest is 

 usually placed in a crotch, but other situations are frequently 

 chosen, notably the spaces in the rough sides of the Fish 

 Hawk's nest. On May 14, '81, I found one in a hollow of a 

 tree not seven feet from* the ground, and on May 22, '92, 

 another in a partially torn out Flicker hole. In '91-2-3, 

 they nested inside the barn on the Hampden property, in Dula- 

 ney's Valley, placing their nests on the rafters and roof -sill 

 (J. H. Pleasants, Jr.,). 



. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus (5116). Bronzed Grackle. 



"Occasionally east of the Alleghanies, from Virginia north- 

 ward " (Manual, 380). " Mr. Ridgway notes for us < several speci- 

 mens seen' but considers it 'rare.' Mr. Wm. Palmer notes one in 

 his possession shot by Lewis McCormick at Fall's Church, Va., 

 and several obtained by Henry Marshall, at Laurel, Md.," (A. 

 C., 73). One was sin. t in Prince George's County, by Fred. 

 Zeller, (Smith. Report, '86, 665), and another at Laurel, Md., by 

 George Marshall (Ibid. 724). 



