BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. jfto 



frequently seen in migration. After July it becomes very 

 rare, or entirely disappears, owing to the fact that it col- 

 lects in large flocks and retires to some quiet place where 

 food is abundant and where it can remain undisturbed dur- 

 ing the molting season; but in the latter days of August 

 and throughout September it usually reappears in immense 

 flocks before moving southward. 



"The crow blackbird is accused of many sins, such as 

 stealing grain and fruit and robbing the nests of other 

 birds, but the farmers do not undertake a war of extermi- 

 nation against it, and for the most part allow it to nest 

 undisturbed about their premises. An examination of 2,346 

 stomachs shows that nearly one-third of its food consists 

 of insects, of which the greater part are injurious. The 

 bird also eats a few snails, crawfishes, salamanders, small 

 fish, and occasionally a mouse. The stomach contents do 

 not indicate that it robs other birds to any great extent, as 

 remains of birds and birds' eggs amount to less than half of 

 one per cent. 



"It is on account of its vegetable food that the grackle 

 is most likely to be accused of doing damage. Grain is 

 eaten during the whole year, and during only a short time 

 in summer is other food attractive enough to induce the 

 bird to alter its diet. The grain taken in the winter and 

 spring months probably consists of waste kernels gathered 

 from the stubble. The stomachs do not indicate that the 

 bird pulls sprouting grain, but the wheat eaten in July and 

 August and the corn eaten in the fall are probably taken 

 from fields of standing grain. The total grain consumed 

 during the year constitutes 45 per cent of the whole food. 



