Birds of Allegany Park 261 



being a favorite. It is lined with Horsehair. The eggs are marked 

 with fine irregular crisscross lines, that make them appear as though 

 cracked. In July, young Orioles that have tumbled from the nest 

 and are still unable to fly well, may be found. They are quite noisy, 

 and if they escape marauding cats, will be fed by the parents till 

 able to care for themselves. 



Cedar Waxwing. Bomby cilia cedrorum Vieill. 



This bird, a little larger than the English Sparrow, may be easily 

 distinguished from all other summer birds of the Park by the crested 

 head, soft brown, pray and yellowish plumage, the black about its 

 eyes and the yellow band across the end of the tail. The red wax- 

 like tips of the wings are not present in all individuals. Young 

 birds show a whitish mark over the eye, but at first lack the black 

 eye patch, and their breasts are streaked with light brown. The soft 

 smooth plumage of this bird makes, it, while not particularly brilliant, 

 one of the most beautiful of American birds. 



The Cedar Waxwing is quite common in the Park. It inhabits 

 orchards and shade trees, but is also found to some extent along 

 stream borders, and about the edges of thickets and forests. It lives 

 in the trees and bushes, and is easily observed in wild cherry trees 

 when the cherries are ripe and it is gathering them for itself and its 

 young. 



This bird is songless, having usually but a single long whine- 

 like note, rather high-pitched and faint. Mr. Silloway describes 

 another note, a loud screech produced by a wounded bird. I once 

 captured a bird that had broken its wing against a wire, and as I 

 caught it, it gave the same frightened cry. 



The nest is built in a bush or tree, rather later than most species, 

 nesting being at its height in August. The young are fed largely 

 on cherries and smaller berries, the parents carrying these to the 

 nest in their throats, and ejecting them one at a time when feeding 

 the young (cf. Herrick, 1905, pp. 86-102). 



Bronzed Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula ceneus Ridgw. 



The Grackle is a little larger than the Robin. It is entirely black, 

 with rich, metallic reflections of purple, bronze and green. It may 

 be known from other Blackbirds by the larger size and the long tail, 

 in which the middle feathers are longest. This tail, when spread in 

 flight, is shaped like the keel of a boat. The female is a little smaller 

 and duller than the male. 



The Grackle is fairly common in and about the Park, nesting in 

 shade trees and orchards and feeding largely in the open meadows 

 or. along the shore of the river. It is likely to be in small flocks 

 even when nesting, and several nests are often built in the same 

 tree. It walks rather than hops, as do all the Blackbirds. 



The voice of the Grackle is always harsh. The common call is 

 a " chack " similar to that of the Red-wing. In spring the birds 

 utter harsh, raucous notes that evidently serve as a song. 



