138 YELLOW-HEADED R LACK BIRD. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This species is readily distinguished from other Blackbirds in the adult stage by the yellow head, and in other stages by 

 the peculiar colors as described. Distributed during the breeding season throughout the region west of the Mississippi. 

 Wintering in the more Southern sections. Accidental in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of male specimens. Length, 10'50; stretch, 17'30; wing, 5'40; tail, 4' 13; bill, '88; tarsus, 1-4(1. 

 Longest specimen, 10'60; greatest extent of wing, 17'40; longest wing, 5'45; tail, 4'17; bill, '!)8; tarsus, T45. Shortest -\--- 

 imen, 10'40; smallest extent of wing, 17'20; shortest wing, 5'35; tail, 4'05; bill, '80; tarsus, T35. 



Average measurements of female specimens. Length, lO'OO; stretch, 17'00; wing, 5'25; tail, 3'70; bill, "80; tarsus, 

 T30. Longest specimen, 10' 10; greatest extent of wing, 17'10; longest wing, 5'30; tail, 3'75; l)ill, '85; tarsus, 1'25. Sliort- 

 est specimen, 9'95; smallest extent of wing, 16'95; shortest wing, 5'24; tail, 2'62; bill, 76; tarsus, 1-26. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in reeds. They are bluky, though compact, structures composed of quite coarse grass and woods, lined 

 with fine grass. Dimensions; external diameter, 5'60, internal, 4'12. External depth, 5'85, internal, 2'65. 



Ef/r/s, oval inform, three to five in number, bluish-gray in color, spotted and blotched irregularly with yellowish-brown 

 and occasionally lined with umber. Dimensions from "80 x '70 to 1'OOx '75. 



HABITS. 



Although the Yellow-headed Blackbird has been taken once in Florida and once in 

 Massachusetts, as stated, yet I have never chanced to meet with it; but Mr. R. Ridgway 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, has kindly written for me a description of its habits, as 

 observed by him. . 



"The tules constitute in California one of the most characteristic, if not prominent, 

 features of the landscape. The term is peculiar, so far as the United States are concerned, 

 to the vernacular of that state, and is used to designate those vast areas of reedy marsh 

 which occupy so great a portion of the valleys of the rivers which flow into the Bay of 

 San Francisco. It was among the tules, near Sacramento, that we formed our acquaint- 

 ance with the Yellow-headed Blackbird. There this species swarmed among the countless 

 multitude of the feathered race. Its most intimate associates being the Red-wings whioh 

 were no less numerous than the motley crowd of water-fowl composed of hovering Terns, 

 clucking Coots, Gallinules, and various kinds of Ducks which together made an uproar 

 quite confusing to one not used to the scene." 



"The geographical range of the Yellow-headed Blackbird is quite coextensive with the 

 treeless districts of the western half of the continent, where ever suitable localities, such 

 as that described above, occur. It is, therefore, to be met with from the prairie districts 

 of the Mississippi valley to the Pacific, being no less numerous in parts of Illinois and 

 Wisconsin than in the most favored parts of California, while to the North and South its 

 regular range extends to the wild rice swamps of the Saskatchawan on the one hand, and 

 to the prairie sloughs of Texas on the other. Within the above limits the Yellow-headed 

 Blackbird may be said to occur regularly, although there are of course very numerous 

 districts where it is never found, owing to unsuitableness of environment. There are, how- 

 ever, even records of its occurrence far beyond any localities above mentioned. It has 

 been captured at Volusia, Florida, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in Massachusetts, 

 while it has even strayed to Greenland and Cuba. The occurrence of this species in these 

 last two localities, however, may be regarded as entirely exceptional." 



