256 GENUS GRACULA. [June, 



OBSERVATIONS. 



The Purple Jackdaw or Grakle inhabits the Caroli- 

 nas, Georgia and Florida, where it is known by the name 

 of Jackdaw. My friend^ Mr. William Bartram, informed 

 me that it sometimes visits Newjersey. If it inhabits this 

 state it must be rare, for although I have explored the 

 coast of Newjersey many times, yet I have never had 

 the good fortune to find it there. Georgia and East Flo- 

 rida appear to be the favourite places of residence of this 

 species. It associates in common with the Boat- tail; and 

 is very numerous among the sea-islands, and the adja- 

 cent marshes of the continent, where it may be observed 

 feeding, at low water, on the oyster-beds, and sand-flats. 

 It has a general resemblance to the Barita, but it is much 

 larger, and its tail is but slightly concave when expand- 

 ed. In its voice it also differs, its chuck being shriller, and 

 it utters other notes not unlike the sound produced by a 

 watchman's rattle. These birds construct their nests, in 

 company, on bushes and reeds, in the vicinity of ponds 

 and marshes. Their eggs I have not seen. 



It is singular that no good specimen of this species 

 should have been examined by the naturalists of Europe; 

 and, in consequence of its history being but imperfectly 

 understood, it is constantly confounded with the Barita. 

 Latham says that it is eleven inches and three quarters 

 long, and he makes the length of the Barita to be nearly 

 thirteen inches. These admeasurements were evidently 

 made from one species, the last mentioned. Daudin re- 

 presents the Barita, meaning the Quiscala, as thirteen 

 inches in length. The Quiscala of this author is the true 

 Barita: he makes its length to be eleven inches. I have 



