218 



NORTH AMKUICAX UIKDS. 



Till! Crmv BliiclvLird iicnts in various sitiintidiis, floiiictinica in low liiislios, 

 iiMii'(! rri'(|ii('iitly in tivfs, mid iit viii'idti.s lici^^lits. A ]iiiii', I'or jsi.-vcnil yrais, 

 liad their nest mi tlic toj) uf a liiijli fir-tiw, sonio sixty I'ci'l i'mni tliu ^TDUnd, 

 staiidiii,!,' a lew t'wX Iriiiii my front door. Tiioiiifji nanowly watclicd liy un- 

 i'liiaidly eyes, no ono could dctecl tliom in any iniscliici'. Xot a spear of corn 

 was niolcstcd, and their food was exihisivcly insects, for which they dili- 

 eently seaicheil. tnrnin,u' over cliips, jiieces of wood, and looso stones. Their 

 nests are lar^fe, coarsely hut slronj,dy made of twin's and dry plants, intor- 

 woven with stroiii,' stems of grasses. When the Kish JIawks huild in their 

 nci^ddiorhood, Wilson states tiiat it is a, freijuent occurrence for tho (irakles 

 to place their nesls in tlie interstices of those of the former. Somo- 

 tiiues several pairs make use of the same Hawk's nest at tho .same time, 

 liviii",' in siiij,ndar amity with it.s owner. Mr. Audidion sptsaks of tindinj;' 

 these birds ^'cnerally l)rciHliiii,' in the hollows of trees. I have never met 

 with their nests in these situations, hut Mr. William r>rew,stcr .says he has 

 found them nesting' in this maimer in the northern part of Maine. Both, 

 however, prolialdy rcfi'r to tlie var. (iiifus. 



The eggs of the (irakle e.\hiliit great variations in their ground-color, 

 varying from a light greeiiisii-white to a deep rusty-lirown. The former is 

 the more common color. The eggs are marked M'ith large dashes and broad, 

 irregular streaks of black and dark brown, often presenting a singular gro- 

 tescpieiiess in their sha[tes. Kggs with a deep brown ground are usually 

 marked chieily about the larger end with continent, cloudy blotches of deeper 

 shades of the same. The eggs measure 1.25 inches by .90. 



Vur. (cnons, Uidqwav. 



BBONZED OBAKLE. 



Qui.iailus vcr.iicnlur, AuD. Oni. I)ii)g. pi. vii ; I'.irds Am. IV, pi. ccxxi (fif^ure, Imt nnl 

 (Icsoi-iptinii). — I5.V1K1), liinl.s N. Am. ISiiS, 5S5 (western s])(>eiiiii'iis). — 8a.MI.'I;i,.s, 3S2. 

 Qitimtlus wiicus, liinuwAV, I'r. I'liil. Aeiul., Juiic, ISliit. 134. 



Si'. CiiAK. Length, 12.50 to 13.50; wiiiir, 6.00; tail, G.OO ; f-nliiu-n, 1.20; tjivsus, 1.32. 



Tiiinl and fourth (piilla loiij^ost and 

 oriual ; first shorter than lil'lli ; projec- 

 tion of primaries I)eyon(l .seeondaries, 

 1.28; frradnalion of tail, 1.48. 



Metallic tints rich, deep, ami uni- 

 form. Head and neck all roiiiul ricli 

 silky steel-liluc, lliis strictly confined 

 to tliesic ])()rtions, and ahruptly dc- 

 llned behind, varying in shade from 

 an intense Prussian Mae to liia.ssy- 

 Var. anna. greoni.>ili, the latter tint always, when 



present, most apparent on tlie neck, the head always more violaceous; lores velvety- 

 black. Entire body, above and below, unifonn continuous metallic bras.sy-olive, varyinff 



