298 ICTERID^E : AMERICAN STARLINGS. 



whistle, usually followed by a few similar but falling 

 notes. These belong to the Cow-bird, who also whis- 

 tles sometimes as he takes to wing." 



There is evidently something wanting to perfect the 

 character of the Cow-bird, thus far developed imper- 

 fectly and awry. Little as is reasonably to be ex- 

 pected of such a foundling, he may perhaps learn to 

 sing when he learns to behave himself. Harmony is 

 little likely to come where there is lack of the love 

 of it. 



RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 

 AGEL^EUS PHCENICEUS (.) V. 



Chars. Male : Uniform lustrous black ; lesser wing-coverts scar- 

 let, bordered with buff. Length, 8.00-9.00 ; extent, 14.00-14.50 ; 

 wing, 4.25-4.50 ; tail, 3.25-4.00. Female : Everywhere streaked ; 

 upper parts blackish-brown, with pale streaks, forming median 

 and supraciliary stripes on the head ; below, whitish, with numer- 

 ous sharp dusky streaks, tinged with reddish or fulvous on the 

 head, throat, and lesser wing-coverts ; smaller than the male. 

 Length, under 8.00; wing, about 4.00 ; tail, 3.25. Young male: 

 Like the female, but larger, soon showing black plumage, and 

 generally with bright bay edgings of the feathers on the upper 

 parts. 



The Red-wings are among the very common and 

 familiar birds of New England during the greater part 

 of the year, and quite irrespective of latitude ; but 

 though so numerous, they are somewhat locally dis- 

 tributed in the haunts that please them best, large tracts 

 of country being often not visited. They are birds of 

 the swamp and the marsh, either in the swaying sea 

 of rushes or the stubborn brake of bushes, whence 

 numbers of them overflow into low moist fields and 



