80 'Scientijic Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



time — only a few days — and then are not seen until autumn, 

 when they pass as before. 



MoLOTHEUS PECORIS (Swains.) Coivhird. — They arrive in 

 large flocks in the latter part of February ; I have taken them 

 first on the 25th of that month. They remain for some time, 

 frequenting in great numbers ground that has been newly sown, 

 or where the grass has been burnt off. Whenever there is a 

 return of cold hard weather they disappear, but the first few fine 

 days bring them back again. With them are mixed flocks of the 

 red-winged blackbird, and smaller flocks of the purple-grackle, 

 which act in the same manner. When the weather has settled 

 down to be warm and fine, the cowbirds leave for the north. 



Agelaius phgeniceus (Vieill.) Red-ivinged Blackbird. — These 

 arrive in flocks about the same time as the last ; the earliest I 

 have seen was on the 21st of Februar}'. They however remain 

 throughout the summer, and during the nesting season frequent 

 swampy places near rivers or ponds. The female often suspends 

 her nest from the reeds about a foot or two above the water, 

 while the male spends the whole day among the willows close 

 by, singing and chasing the female whenever she appears. He 

 comes up to her with a flood of song, his tail spread to the utmost, 

 his wings extended and fluttering, displaying to the greatest ad- 

 vantage the bright patch of scarlet. As he sails slowly up, he 

 looks twice his real size, and is quite a beautiful bird. Then when 

 she bolts, as she generally does, he chases her rapidly round and 

 round, with much singing and squalling. 



Stuenella magna (Swains.) Meadoiu Lark. — A permanent 

 resident, and very common. It frequents pastures and open lands, 

 and does not seem to migrate in any way. In winter they 

 assemble in flocks, somewhat as the European starling does, but 

 more scattered and irregular, and not in such numbers. In 

 changing their quarters from one field to another, a few will get 

 up and fly perhaps a quarter of a mile, followed at a distance of 

 a few hundred yards by one or two more, and so on until the 

 whole of them have assembled again, but I have never seen them 

 fly in a compact mass, as starlings do. They build their nest in 

 some hollow in the ground, and it is roofed over with grass stems, 

 like that of the ortyx, but flatter. 



