RED- AND- WHITE- WINGED TROOPIAL. 3 



the sea than others are wont to do, those which go farthest inland will 

 rarely spend a night anywhere else than on the sedges surrounding the 

 ponds or lakes of the interior. In this respect, these different species 

 remind you of a similar habit in om" Common American Crow, which 

 differs from the Fish Crow, the latter, as I have already informed you, 

 retiring to the tops of low trees in the midst of swamps to spend the 

 night, and often at a considerable distance from any open water. 



The birds of which I now particularly speak are all in a manner 

 omnivorous, and although their bills differ considerably in shape, some 

 being stouter or less conical, or less pointed than others, they are all 

 fond of grain, and in a greater or less degree are looked upon by the 

 husbandman as depredators. Their notes are more chattering than 

 musical, and they are exceedingly prone to be garrulous at all seasons 

 of the year. Fond of flesh, they not unfrequently devour the young of 

 birds weaker than themselves ; and they have a habit of perching on 

 cattle, to search for the insects among their hair. While the Boat- 

 tailed Grakle is fond of seeking for crayfish, fiddlers, or fry that have 

 been cast on the shore, or of watching the dying oyster on the exposed 

 bank, the Crow Blackbird will be found following the plough, picking up 

 grubs and worms, or tearing the tender blades of the maize, in company 

 with Redwings, Cow Buntings, and Ferruginous Grakles. All these 

 species form their nests pretty much alike, and when they are placed 

 on trees introduce into their composition some dung or earth, in which 

 respect they resemble the American Crow. Lastly, I may state, that, 

 to my taste, their flesh is very far from excellent. 



The beautiful species of this group which forms the subject of the 

 present article was discovered in Upper California by my friend Tho- 

 mas NuTTALL, Esq., from whom I received the specimen represented 

 in the plate, together with the following account. " Flocks of this 

 vagrant bird, which, in all probability, extends its migrations into 

 Oregon, are very common around Santa Barbara in Upper Califor- 

 nia, in the month of April- Their habits are similar to those of 

 the Red-winged Icterus, but they keep in large flocks apart from 

 that species, which also inhabits this country as well as Mexico. 

 They are seldom seen but in the near suburbs of the town, feeding at 

 this time almost exclusively on the maggots or larvae of the blow-flies, 

 which are generated in the offal of the cattle constantly killed around 

 the town for the sake of the hides. In large whirling flocks they are 



