QUISCALUS MAJOR. 151 



QUISCALUS MAJOB. 

 Boat-tailed Grackle. 



Quiscalus major VIKIUOT, Xoiiv. Diet. XXVIII, 1819, 487. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, robust. Size, large. Feet, very stout. Tongue, long, thin and horny, deeply bifid at tip, and pro- 

 vided with a fringe of cilia which extends along the sides for the terminal fourth,* black in color. Sternum stout. 



COLOR. Adult male. Uniform lustrous black throughout, with purplish-blue reflections on the head, neck, and upper 

 breast, and greenish on the remainder of the body, being duller on the wings and tail. Iris, reddish brown. Bill and feet, 

 black. 



Adult female. Dark-brown above, becoming reddish on the head, with a greenish gloss on the back, wings, and tail. 

 Si' Its of head, dusky, with a superciliary line of yellowish-brown. Beneath yellowish-brown, becoming darker on the sides, 

 flanks, and under tail coverts. Iris, hill, and feet as in the male. 



Young. The mules lack the bright reflections and the feathers of the breast show whitish edgings. The female is 

 much paler beneath. 



Nestlings. Similar to the young female but much paler beneath, especially on the throat and abdomen. There is also 

 a strong o\erwashing of yellowish-brown above. Bill and feet, brown. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is little or no variation in birds of the same age and sex from the same locality. Readily distinguished by the large 

 si/e and colors as described. Distributed in summer from Florida to the Carolinas and throughout the Gulf States. Win- 

 ters in the more southern ]>ortions. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of thirty male specimens from Florida. Length, 15'95; stretch , 22'70; wing, 6'35; tail, G - 45; 

 bill. l'G2; tarsus, 1'95. Loiigc-t specimen, 16'90; greatest extent of wing, 25'00; longest wing, 7'70: tail, 7'40; bill, 2-00; 

 tar-us, 3-05. Shortest specimen, 15'(0; smallest extent of wing, 20'50; shortest wing, 5'00; tail, 5'50; bill; 1'25; tarsus , 

 1-40. 



\ rug'; measurements of twenty female specimens from Florida. Length, 12'74; stretch, 17'35; wing, 5'G2; tail, 

 5'30; bill, 1-38; tarsus, 1-31. Longest specimen, 13'50; greatest extent of wing, 18'00; longest wing, 5'95; tail, 5'60; bill, 

 1-50; tarsus, MO. Shortest specimen, 12'00; smallest extent of wing, 16'70; shortest wing, 5'40; tail, 5'00; bill, 1'25; tar- 

 sus, 1-25. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in grass anil bushes. They are large, compact structures composed of coarse grass and weeds, lined with 

 fine trpass. Dimensions; external diameter, 8'IK), internal, 4 - 00. External depth, 5'00, internal, 3'00. 



Eyys, from three to four in number, oval in form, pale-blue in color, clearly lined and spotted with brown and umber. 

 The lines are well defined on the edges, but the ground color is often clouded with brownish. Dimensions from l'35x '90 

 to l-20x-80. 



HABITS. 



Among the most noticeable land birds of Florida are the Boat-tailed Gracklcs. This 

 is partly due to their large size, but is mainly owing to the fact that they make themselves 

 conspicuous by their loud notes and ostentatious display. As they are generally regarded 

 as harmless birds they are seldom molested and thus have acquired confidence in man, be- 

 coming very tame. Indeed they are the most unsuspicious of any birds of such large sixo 

 that I ever saw, and I have frequently passed within two yards of them as they sat on the 

 low lm~!irs on the bank of the river. But wherever the tourists go, they are prone to shoot 

 everything that they see, and the Jackdaws, as they are called, soon become aware of this 

 propensity, so that they are very shy about cities or towns. Being remarkable sagacious 

 birds they do not remain long where they are persecuted, but retreat to wilder sections 



