BIRDS OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS., ETC. 75 



and beetles that infest the trees, and are then seldom seen 

 in the orchards they so much frequent in the breeding 

 season. 



134. Icterus spurius Bonap. Orchard Oriole. Rare 

 summer visitant. A few pairs breed every season. 



135. Scolecophagiis ferrugineus Swain. Rusty Grakle. 

 Rusty Blackbird. Rather rare. Stragglers are seen in 

 fall and spring ; occasionally small flocks. In spring ar- 

 rives early, and is seen as late as May ; seen in autumn 

 from the last week in September till November : have 

 seen it November 24th. 



136. Quiscalus versicolor Vieill. Purple Grakle. Crow 

 Blackbird. Common summer visitant, breeding in com- 

 munities, but is not generally dispersed over the country. 

 Arrives last week in March, and earlier. 



137. Corvus carnivorus Bartram. American Raven. 

 Accidental. One was taken by Mr. C. W. Bennett, in the 

 fall of 1859. One was killed at Tyngsborough, Mass., a 

 few years since. (Agr. of Mass., 1859, Secy's Rep., p. 143.) 



138. Corvus americanus Aud. Common Crow. Resi- 

 dent. Very abundant in spring and fall, appearing in 

 immense flocks. Seems to have diminished ver} T materially 

 in numbers in the last six or eight years, hundreds, and 

 probably thousands, having been killed in the State by the 

 use of strychnine almost every year. Fewer have bred 

 here for the last few years than formerly. 



139. Cyanura cristata Swain. Blue Jay. " Corn Bird." 

 Common resident. Somewhat gregarious. Resides in the 

 woods, but makes frequent excursions over the open coun- 

 try, visiting the orchards for piratical purposes in the 

 summer, and the farmer's corn crib in the winter. In 

 winter have found in its stomach the eggs of the common 

 tent caterpillar in abundance. 



140. Ectopistes migratoria Swain. Wild Pigeon. Seen 

 in some years in great numbers ; in others very rarely ; 

 are usually more or less common at all seasons, except 

 winter, and a few generally breed. Lays but one egg at a 

 time, but breeds two or three times in a summer. 



141. Zencedura carolinensis Bonap. Carolina Turtle 

 Dove. "Mourning Dove." Very common summer visi- 



