24 



ter; breeds in favorable situations. The migrants arrive, or pass 

 through, in March (April 10, 1873; 2, 1877; March 30, 1878; April 5, 

 1879; April 6, 1880). 



Dimensions. Average measurements of four males : length, 10-75 ; 

 stretch, 16-53; wing, 4-76; tail, 3'16; culmen, 1-35; gape, 1-45; tarsus, 

 1-72; middle toe, 1-15; middle toe audits claw, 1-53; claw alone, -35. 

 Female: length, 9-57; stretch, 14-86; wing, 4-22; tail, 2-75; culmen, 

 1-30; gape, 1-35; tarsus, 1-60; middle toe, 1-17; its claw, '40. 



98. Icterus spurius (Linne). ORCHARD ORIOLE. A common 

 summer resident; breeds. Arrives early in May (9, 1872; 19, 1873; 

 13, 1874; 9, 1875; 7, 1876 [5, de Nottbeck, at Fishkill] ; 15, 1877; 12, 

 1878; 8, 1879; 3, 1880), and remains till late in September (17, 1874). 



Dimensions. Average measurements of eleven males : length, 

 7-32; stretch, 1034; wing, 3-18; tail, 2-92; culmen, -65; gape, 74; 

 tarsus, -88 j middle toe, -58; its claw, -26. 



99. Icterus galbula (Linne, 1758). BALTIMORE ORIOLR. An 

 abundant summer resident; breeds plentifully. Arrives early in 

 May (9, 1872; 11, 1873; 9, 1874; 9, 1875; 7, 1876; 13, 1877; 3, 1878; 

 6, 1879 ; 2, 1880), and departs early in September (22, 1874.) In a nest 

 of unusually large size, found in a pear-tree near my house by Louis 

 A. Zerega, in June, 1874, there were no less than eight eggs. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of twenty-three specimens : 

 length, 7-53; stretch, 11-72; wing, 3-52; tail, 2-84; culmeu, -70; tar- 

 sus, -85. 



100. Scolecophagus ferruginous (Gmelin}. RUSTY GRACKLE. 

 A common spring and fall migrant. Arrives from the South early in 

 March (30, 1873; 19, 1874; 17, 1875; 14, 1876; April 5, 1879; March 

 11, 1880), and all pass through before the end of May. Returning in 

 autumn, they are found from September until December. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of ten specimens : length, 

 9-55; stretch, 14-60; wing, 4-61; tail, 3-52; culmen, -91; tarsus, 1-06; 

 middle toe and its claw, -75. 



101. Quiscalus purpureus (Linne). PURPLE GRACKLE; CROW 

 BLACKBIRD. A spring and fall migrant. I do not know that any 

 breed in the Highlands; but numbers do so about Newburgh, and 

 Fishkill-on-the-IIudson, just above the Highlands ; and the species 

 nests plentifully lower down the river. It arrives in March (11, 1871 ; 

 6, 1874 ; February 29, 1877, Fishkill, de Nottbeck ; March 8, 1878 ; 12, 

 1879). In autumn, it remains till November. 



In the mountains, Crow Blackbirds are quite uncommon, although 

 they are abundant on both sides of us. In Orange County, I have 

 observed them in the greatest numbers. On the first of May last, I 

 took the stage at Newburgh, for Cornwall. The bridge at Moodna 

 Creek was being repaired, so the coach proceeded via Vail's Gate. 



