No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 115 



record. New Haven, Nov. 22, 1900, Dec. 13, 1906 (A. A. S.), 

 Dec. 25, 1911 (C. H. P.). Portland, Nov. 3, 1908; Litchfield, 

 Nov. 24, 1906 (H. Sanford). 



Quiscalus quiscula quiscula (Linnaeus). Purple Crackle. 



A common summer resident of the pines and spruces about 

 the towns and cities of the southern part of the state ; breeds as 

 far north as Bethel, Litchfield, and Portland. 



Earliest record. New Haven, March 4, 1882, Feb. 19, 1902 

 (A. A. S.) ; Portland, Feb. 20, 1880. 



Latest record. New Haven, Nov. 8, 1901 ; Portland, Nov. 

 8, 1892. These birds seem to migrate in two divisions, the first 

 leaving between August 24 and 30, the second between Sept. 25 

 and Oct. 30 (J. H. S.). 



Winter records 1 . Dec. 20, 1887, New Haven (L. B. W.) ; 

 Dec. 28, 1895, Hartford (J. P. Hall) ; Dec. 12, 1907, New Haven 

 (A. A. S.). 



Nest. In a conifer, from 10 to 40 feet from the ground. 



Eggs. 3-5 ; May. 



Nesting dates. Earliest record. April 25, 1892, five eggs 

 (J. H. S.), April 25, 1895, five eggs (H. W. F.). Latest record. 

 June 8, 1887, five eggs (Watrous). 



Unusual nest. A nest in the rushes of a marsh near Kent 

 found by H. K. J. Very unusual, since all other nests recorded 

 were in trees and usually at some distance from the ground. 



By the latter part of June, the duties of nidification over, the 

 birds assemble in flocks and frequent the tops of trees in the 

 woods. 



Intermediates between Quiscalus quiscula quiscula and ceneus 

 are found breeding at Portland. 



Quiscalus quiscula aeneus Ridgway. Bronzed Crackle. 



A tolerably common summer resident in the northern part of 

 the state, breeding in the conifers about the towns as far south 

 as Portland. An abundant fall migrant in October and Novem- 

 ber and irregular spring migrant in the southern part of the 

 state, and a common spring and fall migrant in the northern part. 



1 Probably some of these winter records refer to Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. 



