BIRDS OF INDIANA. 905 



Migrant, most places rarely identified, but really common. Barely, 

 they may be found in winter in southern Indiana and Illinois, as far 

 north as Catlin, 111., and Knox County, Ind. Most of them pass far- 

 ther south in early winter, remaining with us throughout the State, 

 ^ome years, until late in November. 



Mrs. J. L. Hine reports them from Sedan, November 11 > 1889; 

 November 25, 189.1; Mr. J. G. Parker, Jr., from Calumet, 111., Novem- 

 ber 4, 1887; Greencastle, November 15, 1893. One taken to be this 

 species was noted at Brookville, January 23, 1887; Brookville, Novem- 

 ber 17, 1885, November 24, 1887. Mr. A. W. Hamilton reports a 

 number at Zanesville, Wells County, December 7, 1896. The greater 

 number begin to return early in March, and may be seen in flocks in 

 southern Indiana until past the middle of the month March 21, 1883. 

 The first arrivals pass on at once to the swampy portions of the State. 

 There they may be found, some years, well through April. Mrs. Hine 

 reports them from Sedan, April 28, 1892, and Mr. C. A. Tallman 

 noted them in Cook County, 111., May 1, 1897. In the fall they begin 

 to return from their northern breeding grounds, some years by early 

 October. Mr. Chansler noted it at Bicknell, October 5, 1894. Most 

 of them remain about our smaller lakes through October, and in south- 

 ern Indiana we generally see them in flocks in November. Major 

 Bendire says the ordinary call note is like "tchack, tchack," several 

 times repeated. Another call is "turnlee, turnlee," or "trallahee, trall- 

 ahee." 



Prof. F. H. King says he examined five specimens. Three had 

 eaten seven beetles, among them three aquatic species; one, moths; 

 one, two small mollusks; and two, small seeds (Geology of Wis., Vol. 

 I., p. 551). They have been said to eat corn, but do no damage in 

 Indiana. 



117. QEKUS QUISCALUS VIKILLOT. 

 Subgenus QUISCALUS. 



*195. (5116). (Juiscalus quiscula aeneus (RIDGW.). 



Bronzed Grackle. 

 Synonyms, COMMON BLACKBIRD, CROW BLACKBIRD, PURPLE GRACKLE. 



Adult Male. Entire body, above and below, uniform and unvarying 

 brassy-olive, or olive-bronze; wing shading gradually into bronze-pur- 

 ple, the primaries and tail more violet-purple; head, neck and jugulum, 

 metallic brassy-green, steel-blue, violet or purple (according to individ- 

 ual), always very abruptly defined against the very different color of 

 the back and breast. Bill and feet, deep black; iris, yellowish-white; 



