THE BIRDS OF NEW JEKSEY. 207 



Young in first summer. Ashy brown, without spots. 



Nest in holes about buildings or hollow trees, constructed of grass, twigs, 

 etc. ; eggs, five, pale greenish-blue, 1.15 x .85. 



According to Mr. F. M. Chapman,, eighty Starlings were liberated 

 by Mr. Eugene Schuffelin, in Central Park, New York, on March 6th, 

 1890, and forty more on April 25th, 1891. By 1894 they had spread 

 beyond the park limits, and by 1906 had reached Red Bank and Prince- 

 ton, Xew Jersey. 1 At the present time they have spread down the 

 coast to Tuckerton, in the interior as far as Vineland, and down the 

 Delaware to Philadelphia, with one record for the State of Delaware. 2 

 As soon as it became apparent that the Starlings had obtained a foot- 

 ing in New York, the United States government prohibited their fur- 

 ther importation, but too late to stop their spread. They have many 

 of the undesirable qualities of the English Sparrow, and will, it is 

 feared, drive away many of our native birds. 



Family ICTERID^E. 

 THE ORIOLES, BLACKBIRDS, ETC. 



The members of this family are peculiar in having the culmen run 

 well up on the forehead, dividing the frontal feathers. 



a. Abdomen streaked all over with black and white (or buff). 



RED-WING BLACKBIRD (female), p. 210 

 act. Abdomen not streaked. 



6. Under parts black (sometimes edged with buff in autumn). 



c. Wing, 5.75 or over. GRACKLES, pp. 215-217 



cc. Wing under 5. 



d. Shoulder red and buffy-white, otherwise black. 



RED-WING BLACKBIRD (male), p. 210 

 dd. Hind collar buff, rump white, otherwise black. 



BOBOLINK (male), p. 208 

 ddd. Head brown, rest of plumage blue-black. 



COWBIRD (male), p. 209 

 dddd. Head yellow, rest of plumage black. 



YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, p. 210 

 ddddd. Entirely blue-black (edged with rusty in autumn). 



RUSTY BLACKBIRD, p. 215 



1 Birds of N. Y. and Vicinity, p. 164. 



2 Stone, Auk, 1908, p. 221. Cf. Babson, Bird Lore, 1907, p. 209. 



