X, lOTEROCEPHALUS, YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 189 



I am inclined to agree with Dr. Cabanis and others, that it is unnecessary to separate 

 this species geuerally from Ageheus. In form it dillers from the latter only very slightly, 

 and its general economy is the same. 



The eastward extension of tlie species is gre.ater than was not long 

 since supposed. Essentially a prairie bird, it reaches regularly the flat 

 open portions of the States immediately east of the Mississippi, occurring 

 in Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois, if not also more 

 rarely in Michigan and Ohio. Its presence in Greenland is doubtless 

 casual ; all the above quotations appear to relate to a single instance. 

 Other exceptional records are above quoted for Massachusetts and 

 Pennsylvania. Mr. Allen says a specimen was taken near Watertown, 

 in October, 1869, by Mr. Mayuard ; and Mr. Turubull says "Dr. Jackson 

 mentions that this species is occasionally seen along the Alleghany 

 Mountains, where a flock appeared in 1857. Mr. John Kjider shot a 

 young male near Philadelphia." Allen states that it is " said to breed 

 in great numbers in the Calumet marshes of Illinois," and also in the 

 Skunk Eiver marshes of Iowa. He saw birds in Iowa, in July, about 

 grassy ponds near Boonesboro'. I met with a few on the prairies of 

 Wisconsin, in April, 1864, and the following iionth found it abundant 

 in Kansas, and again in New Mexico, where thousands were breeding 

 in a marshy place near Laguna, just west of the Eio Grande ; they were 

 also seen in Eastern Arizona, but not in such plenty. I do not recollect 

 meeting any in California, but Dr. Cooper states that they are numerous 

 in all the valleys of the State, especially where there are grassy meadows 

 or marshes. " They winter in large numbers in the middle districts, and 

 some wander at that season to the Colorado Valley and San Diego, 

 though I doubt if any pass the summer so far south." He alludes in 

 this connection to Dr. Newberry's finding them swarming about Klamath 

 Lake, and adds, that he never saw them near the Columbia, though tiiey 

 are abundant east of the Eocky Mountains up to 58^. Dr. Heermann 

 mentions the appearance of immense flocks at Fort Inge, Texas. Dr. 

 Woodhouse speaks of its abundance in Texas and the Indian Territory, 

 and states that it winters about San Francisco, in California. I have 

 not seen it higher on the Missouri than Leavenworth, but Dr. Hrivden 

 says it is quite common throughout the northwest, in marshy spots on 

 the prairies. Finally, Sir John Richardson gives it as very numerous 

 in the interior of the fur countries, to about 58° in summer, reaching 

 the Saskatchewan by the 20th of May. 



The Yellow-headed Blackbird breeds in suitable places throughout 

 the region indicated in the above paragraph. However generally dis- 

 tributed over dry places and even deserts it may be at other seasons, in 

 the breeding time it shows its affinity to the true Af/ehvi by resorting 

 to marshy spots, sometimes by thousands. The nest is placed in a tuft 

 of upright reeds or rank grasses, some of which pass through its walls, 

 fastening it securely, like that of a Marsh Wren, though it may sway 

 with the motion of the rushes. Probably, to render it light enough to 

 be supported on such weak foundation, no mud is used in its composi- 

 tion ; the structure is entirely woven and plaited with bits of dried reeds, 

 and long, coarse, aquatic grasses, not lined with any difi'erent material, 

 although the inside strands are the finer. The brim of the nest is ele- 

 vated and somewhat folded over, making a thick, firm edge ; but I am 

 not aware that the fabric is ever actually "canopied over like that of 

 the Meadow-lark," as stated by Towusend and repeated by Cooper. The 

 whole thing measures five or six inches across, and is nearly as deep. 

 The eggs may be from three to six in number; two selected specimens 

 measured 1.04 by 0.75, and 1.15 by 0.7G. They are pale grayish-green. 



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