BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. STG 
the breast, extending some distance down on the median line 
and a somewhat hidden space round the anus, yellowish; a con- 
spicuous white patch at the base of the wing formed by the 
spurious feathers, interrupted by the black alula; female 
smaller, browner; the yellow confined to the under parts and 
sides of the head, and a superciliary line; a dusky maxillary 
line; no white on the wing. 
Length (of male), 10; wing, 5.60; tail, 4.50. 
Habitat, western America from Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin 
and north Red river to California, south to Mexico. 
AGELAIUS PHE@NICEUS (L.). (498). 
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 
The Red-winged Blackbirds are an exceptionally abundant 
species here. They reach the southern counties about the 20th 
of March and the principal parts of the State about the 1st of 
April. They come in small flocks generally and some springs 
a single bird will appear several days in advance of the parties 
to follow. They take to the reeds, and especially the cat-tails 
of which they seem to be very fond, obtaining, doubtless, a 
portion of their food from them. The males sing their brief, 
melodious songs from the tops of the trees and bushes, which 
being devoid of leaves, makes them conspicuous objects in 
their black mantles with scariet epaulets. Their notes are 
limpid, sweet and resonant, and are amongst the cheeriest of 
the early spring. When not singing he keeps a constantly 
repeated check, check, check, from which he frequently abruptly 
presses into the liquid utterance of o-kle-ree-e-e-e-ee; o-kle-ree- 
e-e-e-ee, during which his wings and tail are suddenly spread 
and he bows and sidles as if receiving a regal introduction to 
somebody allied to the queen. The males precede the females 
about ten days. Mating immediately follows the arrival of the 
latter and by the 10th of May they engage in building their 
nests in communities in the meadows and swamps. ‘'Tussocks 
of grass or low bushes standing in water are preferably 
chosen, but proximity to the water will answer. Coarse 
grasses are interlaced and woven into a strong, deep nest 
which involves the stalks of grass and twigs, upon which they 
are built. It is lined with fine grasses and fibrous roots and 
generally receives from four to five eggs of a light blue color. 
They bring out two broods, and soon after the last is able to 
fly strongly, gather into flocks. As the season advances these 
flocks aggregate into larger ones until their numbers often . 
exceed all computation, feeding upon grain fields and wild 
