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BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



269 



This bird is found during the migratic»ns in small flocks on fresh- 

 water meadows or about open, busliy swamits, feeding on the ground 

 in aider ihicUels or along the edges of swampy woods. It resembles, 

 more or less, the Krd-wiuged Hluckliird in size, flight, and notes, but 

 unlike this species, with which it sometimes associates, it is compara- 

 tively quiet and retiring. Only at times, in the spring, do we And the 

 flocks musical centers, whence issues a confused medley of whistles, 

 sweeter and higher-pitched than the best efforts of the Redwings. 

 Little is known of this Blackbird in its northern hon\e. It gathers 

 into flocks early in the summer, and the most frequently heard note 

 is a ''cluck" not in the least characteristic. Its quiet demeanor, pale- 

 yellow eye, and uniform color are its chief distinguishing characters 

 in the field, where it nuiy be mistaken for the Bronzed or Purple 

 Grackle. The gray fenuile is unlike the streaked female Redwing. 



J. DwKiiiv, -Jr. 



Bkkwkh's Blackiuki) (510. Scolecnpharfux cynuncphnliin) iidialiits wost- 

 em North Aincrioa, and is of casual cH-ourrfiici' as far cast as Illinois and 

 Louisiana, ami lias been once reeordod I'roin South Carolina. It nuiy l)e dis- 

 tinguished from S. caroUnnx l)y its deep violot-purple head and thu conipara- 

 tivo absence of rusty tips to the featliers. 



611. Quiscalusqulscula (/'//!».). Pnu-i.KCiKACKi.K; CuowBi.ArK- 

 iiiKi). (See Fi^r. 4ii, c.) Ad. i. — Head, neck, throat, and upper breast all 

 around varyini^ from l)rilliant metallic purple to liluish green or steel-blue; 

 back and rump varying from bottlo-green to inotallic purple or shining brassy 

 green, the feuthtrn with iridescent bars; wings and tail externally inetr.llic 

 ]>urple or bluish black ; lower breast and belly resembling the back but duller, 

 Ad. 9 . — M uch duller tlian the nuile, but the featliers t>f the back generally show- 

 ing at least truces of iridescence. S L., l:2lXl-ia-r)(l; W., r)Mi(;; T.,r)-18; H.,M8. 



Bemarks. — Intermediates between this and the Bronzed Grackle are found 

 where their ranges adjoin, but typical (/uixcula always lias iridescent bars on 

 the feathers of the back, runij', and belly, while in mitux these l)ars are want- 

 ing. (On the relationsliips of this group see Chapman, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. 

 Hist., iv, 1892, jip. 1-20.) 



Rnuije. — Breeds in the lower Mississippi Valley and east of tlie Alleglia- 

 nies from Georgia to Massachusetts; winters in the Southern States. 



WiLshington, common T. V. and S. K., Feb. 20; a few winter. Sing Sing, 

 tolerably common S. K.. Feb. If) to Nov. 8. 



Nfd., bulky and compact, of mud aiul coarse grasses lined with liner 

 grasses, in colonies, generally in coniferous trees about thirty feet up, some- 

 times in hushes or holes in trees. AV/ys, three to six, very variable, generally 

 pale bluish or bluish green, singularly spotted, blotched, or scrawled with 

 cinnamon-brown, umber, or black, but sometimes evenly speckled with brown- 

 ish, and rarely almost solid cinnamon- or rufous-brown, MT) x -82. 



When winter gives signs of retreating there comes from the south 

 in sable array the tried advance guard of the feathered array which is 



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