18 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



the roost arriving earliest. Of course, stormy and cloudy weather 

 advanced the time of the flight, as was noted by Mr. Stone. It 

 should also be mentioned that the number of birds along the 

 flight-lines varied greatly at different dates. At a point where 

 200 were seen August 22d, only 1 was observed September Ist. 

 On August 24th 1500 Grackles gathered at Westville, but on 

 September 15th only 500. This indicated that the exact loca- 

 tion of the feeding-grounds had probably changed, though not 

 enough to alter the direction of the flight-line. 



The birds in the North Woodbury roost (E,) increased in 

 numbers till about the middle of September, when they aggre- 

 gated about six thousand birds. From this time they slowly 

 decreased, until on October 1st only a dozen birds approached 

 the roost. These circled about it a few times and flew due north, 

 almost in the opposite direction to the main flight-line. Up to 

 this date the daily routine of flocking at the various gathering- 

 places had been kept up, but now the secondary gathering-place 

 at Westville broke up, though the flight-line was not altered. 

 Investigation on October 8th located the birds in a much larger 

 piece of woodland (S. R. ), one mile north of the old roost. 

 The numbers of the birds had increased enormously. The roar 

 of their evening concert could be heard a quarter of a mile away. 

 About twenty thousand birds roosted here until the third week 

 in October, when they gradually disappeared. The last birds 

 were seen October 26th. The unexpected abandonment of the 

 roost (R) was very similar to the mid-summer abandonment of 

 the Kirkbride roost, and it seems likely that Mr. Stone's sug- 

 gestion is correct, that the smaller roosts combine as the season 

 advances. 



The main facts of the various roosts, other than those already 

 noted, are as follows: Germantown roost, situated in growth of 

 deciduous and coniferous trees in the town. Occupied by birds 

 about forty years. Formerly a large nesting site. Largest num- 

 ber occupying roost, fall of 1912, about ten thousand. Most 

 birds depart about last week in October. Number of birds 

 remain till later, some all winter. These birds roost in the 

 conifers. Other species observed roosting with Grackles — Robins, 

 Cowbirds, Red -winged Blackbirds and English Sparrows. 



