606 



BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



on the Mouse Eiver, both species became very abundant after the sec- 

 ond week iu September, and so continued to be at the time of our de- 

 parture, early in October. They associated together so intimately that 

 a discharge into a flock of Blackbirds often brought down individuals 

 of both species. Their habits are exactly the same, but the two species 

 may be distinguished with little difficulty. 



The foregoing tabular " List of specimens " includes, among those 

 taken in September and October, several specimens of this species. 

 The entry made in my register at the time did not discriminate between 

 them, so that the numbers cannot be separated without handling the 

 specimens, which are not conveniently accessible at time of writing. 



QUISCALUS PUKPUEEUS ^NEUS, Bidg. 



Bronzed Purple Grackle. 



Abundant at Pembina, where it was breeding in June in the hollows 

 of trees. Occurred sparingly along the Mouse Eiver in the fall, and 

 during the last season traced westward to the Eocky Mountains. The 

 specimens show the bronzy general coloration defined against the steel- 

 blue head and neck, supposed to afford ground for the recognition of 

 variety ceneus. 



List of specimens. 



COEVDS AMEEICANUS, Aud. 



Common Crow. 



According to my observation, Crows are not very common in the 

 region under consideration, though I saw a good many along the Mouse 

 Eiver. The species occurs, however, along the whole of the Missouri 

 Eiver. A nest containing five eggs, with the female parent, was se- 

 cured on the Quaking Ash Eiver, June 26, 1874. 



