488 RED-WINGED STARLING. 



of the interior of Newfoundland. In many instances I found it nest- 

 ling in the Floridas on Mangroves and low bushes, in the vicinity of 

 the nests of Cormorants and our smaller Herons, and even sometimes in 

 the midst of them. From these observations, you may readily believe 

 what I have already said as to the greater extension of birds during 

 the migratory movements, in proportion to their growth or age, the 

 younger individuals not being equal in strength to their parents, and 

 seldom reaching the place of their birth in the course of their first 

 year. 



In speaking of this species, Dr Richardson mentions a circum- 

 stance relative to its habits of which I was not aware. " On its first 

 arrival (the beginning of May) it feeds on grubs ; but as soon as the 

 grain sown in the vicinity of the trading posts begins to germinate, it 

 associates itself with Safiron-headed Maize birds and Boat -tails (Com- 

 mon Crow Black-bird), and is occupied the whole day in tearing up and 

 devouring the sprouting plants, returning to the work of devastation as 

 often as driven away." He states that it does not pass the 57th paral- 

 lel. 



The attachment of this bird to the locality which it has selected for 

 breeding, is illustrated by the following note of my friend Dr Thomas 

 M. Brewer of Boston. " A pair of these birds constructed a nest in 

 a small clump of bushes near a brook in Roxbury, and deposited four 

 eggs, which were taken away. They then built a nest within a foot 

 of the first, in which the same number of eggs was laid, and in like 

 manner abstracted. Undeterred by this want of success, they again 

 constructed a nest in the same clump, and this time without molesta- 

 tion. This fact is perhaps trivial in itself, but the same can hardly be 

 told of any other species." The eggs measure in length seven-eighths 

 and three-fourths, and in breadth five and a half eighths. 



At Galveston I observed flocks of female Red- winged Starlings 

 congregated, and to all appearance migrating. This shews that migra- 

 tion in birds is far from being regular, but is dependent on many acci- 

 dental circumstances, such as difference of temperature at certain sea- 

 sons when they are supposed usually to move, or storms, or want of 

 proper food. 



Dr Bachman writes thus to me : — " You speat of the Red-winged 

 Starlings as nearly all proceeding to the coast to breed. They breed 

 very abundantly in all the low marshy grounds of Carolina, and in all 



