204 



COEVUS COEAX, EAVEN. 



ing it to favor. It is ob\-iously of great service iu the de^tructioa of 

 iusects. But it has oue very bad trait, perhaps not generally known. 

 Like the Crow, a not distant relative, it is fond of birds' eggs and ten- 

 der nestlings, and it destroys a great many, particularly Eobins. Cow- 

 ardlike it lurks about the Eobin's vicinity until the parents are away, 

 when it pounces on the nest, seizes an egg or a young one, and hastily 

 retreats. But wary and vigilant as it is, sometimes it is caught in the 

 act, and forced to seek safety by rapid flight from the impetuous attacks 

 of the owners. I had been aware of its fondness for eggs for several 

 years, but only lately learned of this carnivorous propensity, which is 

 doubtless the natural outgrowth of its habit of sucking eggs."' About 

 Washington, the present year (1874), the Grackles appeared in consider- 

 able number early in March, frequenting the various parks of the city 

 with Eobins, Bluebirds, Eed-wings, and other early arrivals. 



The following (the only additional North American species of Quiscalus), has not 

 been found in the Missouri region : 



QUISCALUS MAJOR, Vieill. 



a. major, 



Gracula harita, WiLS., Ind. Am. Orn. vi, 1812. 



Quisculus iaritus, Peab., Eep. Om. Mass. 1839, 285 (Massachusetts; probably a mis- 

 take). — LiNSL., Am. Journ. xliv, 1843, 260 (Connecticut ; probably a mistake). 



Gracula quiseala, Ord, Journ. Phila. Acad, i, 1818, 253.' 



Quiscalus major, ViEiix., Nouv. Diet, xxviii, 1819, 4?7. — Bp., Am. Orn. iv, 1825, 35, pi. 

 4 ; List, 1838, 28 ; Consp. i, 18.50, 4*4.— Nctt., Man. i, 1832, 192.— Ald., Orn. 

 Biog. ii, 1834, 504 ; v, 1838, 480; pi. 187; Syn. 1839, 146; B. Am. iv, 1842, 52, 

 pi. 220.— Bd., B. N. a. 1858, 555.— Dress., Ibis, 1865, 494 (Texas).- Cass., Pr. 

 Phila. Acad. 1866, 409. — Allen, Pr. Ess. Inst. If, 1864, e5 (Massachusetts; 

 probably a mistake). — COUES, Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1868, 2-6 (New England ; prob- 

 ably a mistake). — Allex, Bull. M. C. Z. ii, 1871, 295 (Florida). — Coues, Pr. 

 Best. Soc. xii, 1868, 117 (South Carolina).— Coues, Ibis, 1870, 367 (biogra- 

 phy).— Coues, Pr. PhUa. Acad. 1871, 25 (North Carolina).— CofES. Key, 1872, 

 16(1.— Coues, Check-list, 1874, No. 224.— B. B. & E., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 222, pi. 

 36, t. 3, 4. 



Chalcopltanes major, Temm., Cab. Mus. Hein. 1851, 96. 



b. macrouriis. 



QuUealus maci-ourus, Sw., An. in Men. 1838, 299, f 51°.— Scl., P. Z. S. 1856; 300 (Cor- 

 dova); Ibis, i, 1859, 20 (Guatemala) ; ihid. ii, 1860, 112 (Honduras).- Bd., B.N. 



A. 18.38, 554 ; 1860, 554, pi. 58 ; Mex. B. Surv. ii, It.'ie, Birds, 20, ]<\. 20.— Cass., 

 Pr. Phila. Acad. 1860, 138 (Carthagena).- Cab., J. f. O. ix, 1801, 82 (Costa 

 Eica). — Lawr., Ann. Lye. viii, 181 (Nicaragua) ; ibid, ix, 104 (Costa Eica). — 

 Dress., Ibis, 1865, 493 (Texas).- Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad. 1867, 410 (critical).— 

 SuMiCH., Mem. Best. Soc. i, 1869, 553 (Vera Cruz).— Coues, Key, 1872, 160, fig. 

 159. 



Chalcophanes macroxirus, Cab., Mus. Hein. i, 1851, 196. 



Quiscalus major var. T>uicrouru8, B. B. & K., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 225, pi. 36, f. 1, 2. 



Hob. — The typical form along the South Atlantic and Gulf coast, from the Carolinas 

 to Texas ; not authentic in New England. Var. macrourus from Texas south into Cen- 

 tral America. 



Family CORVID^ : Crows, etc. 



Subfamily CoEViNiE : Ravens and Grows. 

 COEVUS COEAX, Linn. 



Sayeii. 



Conyus corkc, Lrxx., auctorum ; Planches Enlum. 495.— Naum., Vog. pi. 53.— Gould, 



B. E. pi. 220.— SCHL., Not. sur Corv. pi. 1.- Wrts., Am. Orn. ix, 1825, lie, pi. 

 75, f. 3.— Bp., Syn. 1828, 56.— Dough., Cab., Nat. Hist, i, 1830, 270, pi. 24.— Sw. & 

 EiCH., P. B. A. ii, 1831, 290.— Nutt., Man. i, 1832, 202.— AuD., Orn. Biog. ii, 



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