AMERICAN ORNITHOLGY. 163 



HABITS. 



Although the Bronzed Grackles appear to winter in Arkansas, they 

 are much more abundant during spring and summer, especially about 

 corn planting time. At the time when they are most abundant here, 

 they may be seen at late evening or early morning in vast numbers 

 flying to or from the roosting ground. I have watched them for 

 hours at a time without seeing any decrease in their numbers. Often 

 one massive flock two or three hundred yards in width and over two 

 miles long were in sight. As a general thing two or three such flocks 

 would lead the procession, followed by numerous smaller flocks of 

 several hundred individuals, until as darkness fell only a few belated 

 stragglers would be be left in sight. 



It is quite an experience to visit the roosting place of these huge 

 flocks of blackbirds. Just as the sun becomes a dull red and appears 

 to pause a few feet above the horizon before taking its departure for 

 the night, one standing near the roosting place casts his eye eagerly in 

 all directions to catch the first sight of the coming hordes. 



Suddenly as if from behind the clouds the black and moving mass 

 sweeps onwards to within perhaps two hundred yards of the roost, 

 when suddenly as if obeying some order not heard by the observer, the 

 whole flock breaks up into smaller flocks of three to fifty individuals 

 and darts into the bushes with a whizzing noise not unlike that made 

 by the escape of steam from a leaky valve. After the first rush the 

 bystander is a fixture unable to move, unable to withdraw his gaze 

 although his eyes fairly ache with the strain. Fixed to the spot, with 

 senses lulled to slumber by the incessant chirping and the intoxicating 

 whizzing of the tens of thousands of wings above his head, the weary 

 gazer is asleep to all sounds and conditions, save the ones in which he is 

 engulfed and long after the last straggler has found a resting place this 

 would be naturalist gazes up at the vacant dome above, but a few 

 moments before filled with countless numbers of animate creatures. 

 Then as if aroused from his stupid slumber by some sound or move- 

 ment, he suddenly starts, rubs his eyes and slowly feels his way out of 

 the tangle of the thicket, for darkness has crept upon him ere he is 

 aware of it. 



This roosting place is generally some impenetrable thicket and also 

 serves as their breeding place. I call to mind one of these roosts 

 which as far back as I can remember has been very popular with black- 

 birds, both the Grackles and Red-wings. It is a thicket of young 

 cotton wood and willows on a sand bar of the Arkansas River. It is so 

 thick that a rabbitt must have some difficulty in traversing it, and I 

 have seen this place litterally dotted with the nests of these two species. 



