BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 219 



and some seasons they are not observed before April 1 ; they usually, 

 however, come about the middle of March, and frequent chiefly, during 

 their brief sojourn, bushy and marshy situations generally. After 

 having reared their young they again make their appearance in this 

 state about the middle of October (sometimes as early as the first of 

 October), and often are seen as late as the 20th of November. In the 

 autumn the Kusty Blackbirds are observed in flocks of from eight 

 to a dozen or fifteen, seldom more. At this time they inhabit the 

 same localities that were resorted to in spring, and visit also corn 

 and other grain fields ; like the Cowbirds, that depart usually by the 

 time their rusty-coated relatives arrive, they often frequent pasture 

 grounds among the cattle. I have never seen these birds alight on the 

 backs of cattle as Crows and Cowbirds sometimes are in the habit of 

 doing. The only note I have ever heard this bird utter is a short and 

 rather low chuck. The food of this species consists largely of beetles, 

 grasshoppers, snails and earth-worms. They feed to considerable ex- 

 tent on the seeds of various plants ; different kinds of small berries are 

 added to their menu ; the scattered grains of wheat, rye or other cereals, 

 which are to be found in the fields and meadows, are likewise eaten. 

 When in cornfields they sometimes perch on the shocks and pick from 

 the ears a few grains, the damage, however, which they do in this way 

 is of but little importance. 



GENUS QUISCALUS VIEILLOT. 

 Quiscalus quiscula (LiNN.). 



Purple Grackle ; Common Crow Blackbird. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate 61. Fig. 1.} 



Bill stout, about as long as head ; bill and feet black ; iris yellow. In life may be 

 recognized by the V-shaped tail, so conspicuous when flying. Head and neck all 

 well denned steel-blue, the rest of the body with varied reflections of bronze, golden, 

 green, copper and purple, the latter most conspicuous, especially on tail, the tail- 

 coverts and wings. 



Female. Similar, but smaller and duller, with more green on the head. 



Young. Very similar to female. The eyes of young birds are brown. 



Male. Measures about 13 inches long and 18 inches in extent 



Habitat. Atlantic states, from Florida to Long Island. 



It can safely be said that of the numerous representatives of the Avian 

 tribes abounding throughout this great commonwealth, no species is 

 more abundant or familiarly known than is the subject of this article. 

 Early in the month of March this species arrives in Pennsylvania in 

 large-sized flocks from their wintering resorts, viz : Virginia, the Caro- 

 linas, Georgia and other of the southern states. 



During mild winters, however, I have frequently observed them, in 

 limited numbers, in this section (Chester county), also in the county of 



