PASSERES — ICTERID^. 135 



185. (511b.) QuiscALUs quiscula ^neus (Ridgw.). 122. 

 Bronzed Crackle. 



Synonyms: Quiscalus purpureas var. seneus, Q. versicolor, Q. 

 purpureus, Q. aeneus. 

 Crow Blackbird, Common Blackbird, Purple Crackle, 

 Bronzed Crow Blackbird, Brass Crackle, Western Crow 

 Blackbird. 

 Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 162, 180. 



This is the common "Blackbird" of lawns and shade trees. 

 Its steel-blue head and neck and bronze-colored body would 

 at once distinguish it from the other blackbirds. Dr. Whea- 

 ton states that it is "Found everywhere, but is especially 

 numerous in sycamore groves along streams, and in oak 

 woodland." I am not aware that it is now found breeding 

 away from the immediate vicinity of human habitations. 

 It is particularly numerous at farm dwellings where Lom- 

 bardy poplars are numerous, and in towns and parks 

 among the evergreen trees. It also roosts in the shade trees 

 in parks and along the streets where shade trees form a suf- 

 ficiently thick growth. 



There can be no question that this species does more good 

 than harm the whole year through, but that is not saying 

 that the birds should always be left to do as they choose. It 

 is too true that during the fall, when the small grains are 

 standing in shock and the corn is in the milk, the grackles 

 do great damage, sometimes descending in immense flocks 

 upon a field, filling themselves with the grain. They also 

 eat ripe fruit to some extent. During the spring they are 

 decidedly beneficial in ridding the newly turned soil of 

 grubs and other insect larvae. The farmer must be his own 

 judge and execute his sentence — if he can. 



The Bronzed Grackles reach northern Ohio during the 

 first week in March, not seldom with the other first spring 

 birds. At Oberlin the arrivals usually fly first to the trees 

 in which the roost was selected the previous summer, and 

 then station themselves about town to suit their own fancy. 

 The bulk of individuals leave for the south about November 

 10, but stragglers remain into December, or rarely all win- 

 ter long. 



