BLACKBIRD, Red-Winged 



When early in March the Red-wings come, then we know 

 that the tide of the year has turned. With perennial 

 faith in the season they come in flocks of hundreds, sing- 

 ing their springtime chorus with a spirit that March winds 

 cannot subdue. 



CHAPMAN. Bird Life. 22 



In oozy pastures where a brook lazily finds its way 

 through the farm is the ideal pleasure-ground of this "bird 

 of society." His notes " h'-wa-ker-ee " or " con-quer-ee " 

 are liquid in quality, suggesting the sweet, moist, cool 

 retreats where he nests. 



NELTJE BLANCHAN. Bird Neighbors. 23 



Who is not conscious of a thrill of pleasure at sight of 

 one of the handsome birds sailing down to a fence, with 

 scarlet epaulettes fairly standing out on his shoulders? 

 .... The o-ka-lee of the Red-wing stirs associations 

 whose richness is all their own. 



FLORENCE A. MERRIAM. Birds of Village and Field. 1 



"The red-wing flutes his o-ka-lee," and, fluting it, blots 

 out all -the disaster that winter has wrought. There is 

 no early spring-tide note so full of summer; none that 

 warms the landscape so much and tempers the March 

 winds till they are softened to a zephyr. 



ABBOTT. Birds About Us. 27 



22 



