BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 285 
oers. They doso in the northern parts of Maine and New 
Hampshire. Samuels in his Birds of New England says: 
“While in the valley of the Magalloway river in Maine in June, 
1864, I found several (nests); and two of them contained three 
eggs each. 
“These nests were all built in low alders overhanging the 
water. They were constructed of, first, a layer of twigs and 
brier stalks; on this was built the nest proper, which was com- 
. posed of stalks and leaves of grass, which were mixed with 
mud, and moulded into a firm, circular structure and lined 
with fine leaves of grass and a few hair-like roots. The whole 
formed a large structure, easily seen at the distance of a few 
rods through the foilage. The eggs are of a bluish-white 
color, of oval form, and covered with fine scratches and spots 
of light brown. These markings are almost exactly similar 
to those on the egg of the Great-crested Flycatcher. They 
appeac as if done with a pen, which as soon as it is pressed 
forcibly on the object, is suddenly withdrawn, making a mark 
wide at one end, and sharply pointed at the other.” Their 
dimensions were 1.04 by .76 inch, 1.05 by .75 inch and 1 by .70 
inch. 
They reappear in their southern migration about the first 
of October, associated with Brewer’s Blackbirds and Redwings, 
and in greatly augmented numbers. At this time their food 
consists almost exclusively of the wasted grain of the harvest. 
They seem to have the faculty of obtaining their food in less 
time than the Redwings, and consequently have more for 
exclusively social enjoyment. Much of their time is spent on 
the fences, and in the trees, with only an unmelodious note 
like check, or check che weecha, uttered alike by both sexes. 
They mostly take their autumnal leave of us and move south- 
ward at the beginning of November. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill slender, shorter than head, about equal to hind toe; its 
height not quite two-fifths its total length; wing nearly an inch 
longer than the tail; second quill longest; first a little shorter 
than the fourth; tail slightly graduated; lateral feathers about 
a quarter of an inch shortest; general color black, with purple 
reflections; wings, under tail coveris, and hinder part of the 
belly, glossed with green; female, dull brown; iris pale straw 
color. 
Length, 9.51; tail, 4. 
Habitat, eastern North America, west to Alaska and the 
Plains. Breeds from northern New England northward. 
