226 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



211. Quiscalus quiscula seneus (Ridgw.). BKONZED GRACKLE. 



Description. Body always perfectly uniform bronze, without mixed metallic tints, the color 

 sharply defined against the color (steel-blue, bottle-green, etc.) of head and neck. Female duller. 

 Extreme measurements of 11 specimens from Raleigh: L., 11.16-13.00; W., 5.16-5.85; T., 4.50-5.70. 



Range. Temperate North America, from the Rocky Mountains to the Alleghanies, and from 

 the Gulf of Mexico to northern British America, and on the Atlantic Coast from Long Island 

 northward. 



Range in North Carolina. Western and central portions during the migrations only. 



So far as we are aware, the Bronzed Grackle appears in this State only as a 

 migrant, specimens having been taken at Raleigh on February 26, 1895, and from 

 November 5 to December 6 in six different years. At Weaverville, Buncombe 

 County, birds were killed by Cairns from March 10 to 30, 1890 (five specimens 

 secured in all). 



The Bronzed Grackle which from its more extensive distribution and less vari- 

 able characters is considered by many to be the original form from which the other 

 subspecies of the genus was derived, has the same habits as the Purple Grackle, 

 with which in fact it is usually found associated in this State, and which it closely 

 resembles. 



Genus Megaquiscalus (Cass.) 



212. Megaquiscalus major major (Vieill). BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE. 



Description. Male iridescent green and blue. Female dull dusky brown, lighter beneath, 

 very much smaller. Measurements of two males from Beaufort, N. C.: (1) L., 16.00; W., 7.12; 

 T., 7.50; (2) L., 16.12; W., 6.85; T., 6.50. Dimensions of a female from Beaufort: L., 13.75; 

 W., 5.75; T., 5.50. 



Range in United States. South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from Virginia to Texas. 



Range in North Carolina. On the whole coast, not inland; resident. 



r The Boat-tailed Grackle, commonly and universally known in this State as the 

 "Jackdaw," is found on our coast, where it procures its living along the beaches 

 or in the salt marshes. A large part of its food consists of small crabs, shrimps, or 

 other small sea animals that are washed up by the waves. In North Carolina the 

 species nests in April and May, several pairs often occupying the same tree. The 

 eggs are brownish drab, some tinged with olive, others with green, marked with 

 irregular blotches of brown and black. Size about 1.24 x .81. 



The farthest inland the species has been recorded appears to be Plymouth, on 

 Roanoke River, about six miles from Albemarle Sound, where Dr. Smithwick found 

 it nesting in small colonies in April, 1890. For many years there has been a breed- 

 ing colony of these grackles in the town of Beaufort. The species is notably polyga- 

 mous. 



45. FAMILY FRING1I_1_ID>E. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



This is a very numerous family of small birds, containing many of our most 

 familiar species. 



The most distinguishing feature of the birds of this group is the conical bill. It 

 is stout at the base and pointed at the tip, and with the corners of the mouth drawn 

 sharply downward. 



