21 6 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



plumage until their fourth year, but they breed in the immature 

 plumage of the second and third seasons. Their food consists 

 entirely of insects, many of which are most harmful to the 

 farmer and gardener, notwithstanding which they are frequently 

 classed with other species under the general title of " wheat 

 birds," and their nests, when built in orchards, ruthlessly and 

 foolishly destroyed. I have heard the females called " Mexican 

 canaries." 



Icterus galbula (Linn.) Baltimore Oriole. — This beautiful 

 bird appears to be very rare in our district, but one example, an 

 adult male, having come under my notice during my stay in 

 Texas. I obtained this specimen in an old orchard upon a clear- 

 ing in the river bottom, on the SOth August, 1879. Its stomach 

 was filled with small caterpillars and grubs. 



SCOLECOPHAGUS CYANOCEPHALUS (Wagl.) Brewer's Blackbird. 

 — A common winter visitor to the open districts, frequenting the 

 neighbourhood of houses, especially such as have large yards and 

 hogpens attached, where they feed upon the insects which con- 

 gregate in such places, frequently even alighting upon the hogs 

 for the purpose of picking off infesting parasites, a proceeding 

 which evidently meets with the full approbation of each animal. 

 They arrive here early in November, and roam in an unsettled 

 way over the whole country, going in small flocks and exhibiting 

 a restless, uneasy disposition. They are active, sprightly birds, 

 generally on the move, and, though eager in the search for food, 

 so restless that they cannot remain on the ground for five 

 minutes at a time, but continually rise as if frightened, though 

 perhaps only to fly a dozen yards. They are more exclusive in 

 their habits than any of the other blackbirds, so that it is rare 

 to find them associated with other species. They leave this district 

 early in March. 



QuiscALUS PURPUEEUS (Bartr.) Purple Orackle.— This grackle 

 is a common summer visitor to the county, where it arrives about 

 the middle of March, and, being of a sociable disposition, princi- 

 pally affects thinly wooded localities in the neighbourhood of 

 towns, villages, and large farms with sheep and hogpens attached, 

 but it is rare to see any in uncultivated and uninhabited districts. 

 They bring out but one brood in the season, the young of which 

 are able to fly by June, and from that time until their departure 



