ICTEBIB^ —^UISCALINJE : CROW BLACKBIBBS. 413 



average 7.00, latter rather the longer of the two ; its graduation about 2.50 ; bill 1.50 ; tarsus 

 nearly 2.00 ; middle toe and claw about the same. Adult 9 : Astonishingly smaller than the $ , 

 lacking entirely the great development of the tail, and easily to be mistaken for another species. 

 Length 12.00-13.50, average 13.00; extent 17.25-18.25, average 17.75 ; wing 5.25-6.00, average 

 5.67 ; tail 4.75-5.50, average 5.25. General color plain brown, only darker on wings and tail; 

 below brownish-gray, frequently whitening on the throat. South Atlantic and Gulf States, on 

 the coast, abundant ; N. regularly to the Carolinas, frequently to the Middle districts, but not 

 to New England, as far as certainly known, though very likely in exceptional cases. This 

 species differs from the common crow blackbird in being strictly maritime, with the consequent 

 modification in food and habits ; it may be seen at times wading in the water, and small fish and 

 crustaceans form much of its fare. Nesting and eggs as in Q. macrurus; eggs averaging 

 smaller, but not distinguishable with certainty. 



335. Q. purpur'eus. (Lat. purpureus, purple. Fig. 265.) Purple Crow Blackbird. Com- 

 mon Crow Blackbird. Purple Grackle. Of medium size, with moderately keeled and 

 graduated tail, shorter than 

 wings. Sexes subsimilar. Bill 

 usually less tapering and de- 

 flected at tip, but very variable. 

 Adult $ : Iridescence very 

 variable with season, age, and 

 sexual vigor, as well as on 

 different parts of the body ; 

 but always intense in healthy 

 adults, and at its height during 

 the love-ardor ; variously pur- 

 ple, green, blue, violet, and 

 bronzy* not the extensive Fia. 265. -Purple Grackle, reduced. (Sheppard del. Nichols so.) 



green of the last species, nor usually the decided brassy of the next variety ; wings and tail 

 mostly purplish ; dark purplish and steel-blue on head, neck, and breast ; back more green- 

 ish or bronzy. Bill and feet ebony black. Iris straw-yellow. Length 12.00-13.50 ; ex- 

 tent 17.00-18.50; wing 5.00-6.00, averaging 5.60; tail 4.50-6.00, usuaUy under 5.50; bill 

 1.25, very variable ; tarsus 1.25 ; graduation of tail 1.00-1.50. Adult 9 : Blackish, and quite 

 lustrous ; sufficiently similar to the $; length 11.00-12.00 ; wing about 5.00 ; taU about 4.50. 

 Birds of this character, without perfectly brassy back and steel-blue head, are the usual kind in 

 the Atlantic States ; abundant and generally distributed, migratory and gregarious, breeding 

 anywhere in their range, but chiefly northerly. Nesting variable, in tree or bush, on bough or in 

 a hollow, at any height; sometimes in an artificial retreat, or a fish-hawk's nest. Nest bulky, 

 of any trash, usually with mud ; eggs of the character and with all the indescribable variability 

 of others of the genus ; usually bluish or greenish, with purplish veining and clouding, zigzagged 

 and flourished with dark browns or blackish ; averaging 1.25 X 0.90 in size ; 5-6 in number. 

 The grackles are absent from their breeding-grounds for only a small part of the year, when 

 they flock southerly, often in immense bands scouring about for food. At times they are very 

 injurious to the crops, but this is offset by their destruction of noxious insects. The courtsliips 

 of the males look very curious to a dispassionate observer, being carried on with the most gro- 

 tesque actions and ludicrous attitudes, as well as curious vocalization. 



336. Q. p. ae'neus. (Lat. ceneus, brassy.) Bronzed Crow Blackbird. Brass Grackle. 

 Birds from the interior U. S., especially the Mississippi valley, acquire in full plumage a 

 splendid iridescence of three kinds, in pretty distinct areas. Body uniform shining brassy. 

 Hind neck and breast chiefly steel-blue. Wings and tail chiefly violet and purple. This bril- 

 liant coloration is that represented by Audubon, pi. 221 of the 8vo. ed. Such birds occut 



