OF EASTERN PE'bfNSVLVANiA. 



359 



that we have that these birds are raised 'by others 

 , of greater size. 



The eggs of the Cow Blackbird are round-oval 

 and nearly equally rounded at either extremity. 

 They are ordinarily marked with fine cinereous 

 and purplish-brown dottings upon a white ground- 

 color, which render the latter undistinguishable. 

 Others have purple and light brown dashes and 

 blotches over their surface. They vary from .86 

 to about an inch in length, and from .64 to^tyo in 

 breadth. 



Agelceus phoeniceus, Vieill. 



The Swamp Blackbird as this species is com- 

 monly .designated from the peculiar fondness 

 which it affects for swamps and low humid grounds, 

 seldom appears earlier than the first of April, 

 Like Quiscalus versicolor it is exceedingly sociable, 

 many pairs building within a few paces of each 

 other in the same swamp or meadow. On their 

 first arrival they consort together in high open 

 fields, where their songs may be heard at some- 

 what regular intervals, frOm early morn until long 

 after the sun- has sunk to rest. At this time the 

 birds are rather shy and can be approached only 

 with great difficulty. Eminendy terrestrial whilst 

 feeding, they are occasionally found within bushes, 

 upon small trees, and also upon fence-rails during 

 the season of mating, where the males pour forth 

 their melodies into the ears of their listening 

 females, each Qne straining to outvie the other; 



