212 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



The Bed-wing, like the Crow Blackbird, destroys large numbers of 

 "cut-worms." I have taken from the stomach of a single Swamp Black- 

 bird as many as twenty-eight " cut-worms." In addition to the insects, 

 etc., mentioned above, these birds also, during- their residence with 

 us, feed on earth-worms, grasshoppers, crickets, plant-lice and various 

 larvae, so destructive at times in the field and garden. During* the sum- 

 mer season, fruits of the blackberry, raspberry, wild strawberry, and 

 wild cherry are eaten to a more or less extent. The young, while under 

 parental care, are fed exclusively on an insect diet. 



Dr. Coues, writing of this species, says : " From its general disper- 

 sion in low or wet thickets or fields, swamps and marshes, the blackbird 

 collects in August and September in immense flocks, thronging the ex- 

 tensive tracts of wild oats and other aquatic plants in marshes and along 

 water-courses, also visiting and doing much damage to grain-fields. 

 Thousands are destroyed by boys and pot-hunters, but the hosts scarcely 

 diminish, and every known artifice fails to protect the crops from inva- 

 sion of the dusky hordes. At other seasons the ' maize-thief ' is innocu- 

 ous, if not positively beneficial, as it destroys its share of insects."- 

 Key, p. JfOJf,. In the rice-growing states the Bed-winged Blackbird 

 ranks next to the Beed-bird in its ravages 011 the rice fields. Theo. 

 S. Wilkinson, Myrtlegrove plantation, lower coast, Louisiana, writes as 

 follows in the annual report (1886), issued by Ornithologist Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam, U. S. Dept. of Agr., Washington, D. C. : " The rice crop in 

 Louisiana, from the time the rice is in the milk till harvest time and 

 during harvesting, is much damaged by birds, principally the Bed- 

 shouldered Blackbird. Shooting is the only remedy thus far resorted to 

 which is at all effective, and it is only partially so. I have known rice 

 crops to be destroyed to the extent of over 50 per cent., which is a loss 

 of say $13 per acre. While this is an extreme case, a damage and ex- 

 pense of from $5 to $10 per acre is very common. 



" The average yield per acre is about 30 bushels, worth now (March 12, 

 1886) about 80 cents per bushel." 



GENUS XANTHOCEPHALUS BONAPARTE. 

 Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (BON.AP.). 



Yellow-headed Blackbird. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill conical and about twice as long as high ; wings longer than tail ; first primary 

 longest. 



Male. General color black, including lores, and some feathers about eyes and 

 lower bill ; rest of head, the neck and breast, also few feathers about vent yellow ; 

 showy white patch on wing. The female is smaller, and dark brown ; top of head 

 brown ; line over eye, throat and breast dull yellow ; no white wing patch. Length, 

 male about 10 ; extent about 16^ ; bill and legs (dried skin) blackish. 



