384 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



northern migration. It is chiefly a denizen of 

 swamps and marshy situations generally, resem- 

 bling in this particular the Red Wings. We have 

 often detected its presence about our outhouses, 

 from which we infer that it courts rather than 

 avoids the society of man. Its vernal stay is 

 seldom protracted later than about the 15th of 

 March, unless the season has been exceedingly 

 tardy and its advent necessarily retarded. We 

 have also found this species in ploughed fields, 

 subsisting upon the insects which have been 

 turned up by the plow. In the autumn they reach 

 Pennsylvania during the last of September or the 

 beginning of October, and remain often as late as 

 the 15th of November, revisiting similar situations 

 as in the spring. They seem to enjoy the company 

 of the cattle in the pasture-grounds, and even 

 visiting them in the farm-yard. 



This species is apparendy devoid of a song both 

 during its vernal and its autumnal stay. During the 

 pairing period the birds are said to sing, becoming 

 nearly silent while with young, but resume the 

 song in the autumn. Their- notes are described 

 by Mr. Nuttall as quij:e pleasing, and more musi- 

 cal than those of the other species. 



Its flight recalls that of the Purple Grakle, but 

 is less elevated, except during migration, and 

 more sustained. 



In the spring its food consists of insect's and 

 berries. We have detected in the stomachs of 

 several individuals which we have examined 



