908 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



labor. The young remain in the nest about eighteen days. Rarely a 

 second brood is raised. After breeding, they begin to collect into 

 small flocks. In 1896 they were first seen in flocks, coming into 

 Greensburg to roost, June 5 (Shannon). In 1897 I observed the first 

 flock in Brookville after breeding, June 16, and the next June 23. 

 TJhe greater number pass northward and return in immense flocks the 

 first cold spell in September. September 3, 1897, they began to re- 

 turn in flocks, and added their clamor to the sounds of the town. 

 The evening of September 21, a great flight of Blackbirds and Cow- 

 birds was noted. The flocks followed each other so rapidly that there 

 was almost a continual stream from northeast to southwest. Some 

 years but few remain after late September. At Sedan they were 

 noted October 17, 1889; October 29, 1891; October 13, 1892; October 

 27, 1894 (Mrs. Hine). At Brookville, November 14, 1884; November 

 9, 1887. 



In nine specimens examined by Prof. King, the quantity of 

 animal and vegetable food was about equal. Six had eaten corn; two, 

 beetles; one, two water scorpions; one, a small crayfish; and one, a 

 few seeds (Geology of Wis., Vol. I., p. 552. Dr. B. H. Warren, as the re- 

 sult of the examination of hundreds of stomachs of the Purple Grackle, 

 through the period of their sojourn with him, extending over portions 

 of seven years, shows that October is the month in which the greatest 

 damage to corn is done. He says: "These examinations show that 

 late in the fall, when insect food is scarce, corn is especially preyed 

 upon by these birds, but during the previous periods of their residence 

 with us, insects form a large portion of their diet" (Birds of Pa., 2nd 

 ed., p. 222). With us it is rarely they do much damage to corn. But 

 one or two instances have come to my attention during the time it 

 is ripening, in twenty years. On the contrary, the industry the sable 

 visitors show in spring in destroying the insects in the freshly broken 

 ground, thereby exterminating a whole generation of the farmer's 

 foes, much more than compensate for the little corn they eat. Mr. 

 Thos. G. Gentry says they destroy the eggs and young of other birds, 

 particularly Robins. In our State I am not familiar with such a 

 habit. 



XL. FAMILY FRINGILLID^. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



a 1 . Mandibles crossed at tip. LOXIA. 121 



a 2 . Mandibles not crossed at tip. 



fe 1 . Head crested ; bill, wings and tail chiefly red. CARDLKAUS. 137 



6 2 . Head not crested. 



c 1 . Bill very stout, its depth a! base equal to length of hind toe with claw; 

 length about three-fourths that of head. COCCOTHRAUSTES. 118 



