202 



OEDEKS OF BIEDS— PEECHEES AND SINGERS 



pillars it has few equals among birds. In May, 

 insects constitute 92 per cent of its food, and in 

 April and July 70 per cent. For the entire year, 

 animal food, chiefly caterpillars and beetles, con- 

 stitute 83.4 per cent of its food, and vegetable 

 matter the remainder of 16.6 per cent. 



The Purple Grackle, or Crow Blackbird, 1 

 has prompted scores of persons to ask, "What is 

 the name of that very shiny, jet-black bird with a 

 long tail?" No wonder it attracts attention, 

 especially in contrast with the lustreless rusty 

 blackbird. Its color is deep purple-black, and 

 it is as shiny as if it had been varnished all over. 

 It loves to follow the plough, and pick up the 

 big, fat grubs that are exposed to view, before 

 they have had time to burrow out of sight. 

 Often in their eagerness not to miss a chance, 

 these birds will approach within ten feet of the 

 plough-handles. It is then that one notices that 

 their eyes are light yellow, and very odd-looking. 

 This bird has no song, and its sign of content- 

 ment with life is like a great asthmatic wheeze. 

 The tail of this bird is creased lengthwise along 

 the middle, or "keeled." 



•^»»?*- 



PURPLE GRACKLE. 



Prior to the systematic investigations of the 

 Department of Agriculture the value or harm- 

 fulness of the Crow Blackbird was in dispute. 

 The examination of 2,346 stomachs revealed 

 that during an entire year the food supply of 

 this bird is made up in the following percentages: 

 insect food, 26.9; other animal food, 3.4; corn, 

 37.2; oats, 2.9; wheat, 4.8; other grain, 1.6; 

 domestic fruit, 2.9; wild fruit, 2.1; weed-seed, 



1 Quis'ca-lus quis'cu-la. Length, about 12 inches. 



4.2; mast, 14; total, 100. "The charge that 

 the blackbird is a habitual robber of birds' nests 

 is disproved by the stomach examinations." 

 (F. E. L. Beal.) 



THE CROW FAMILY. 



Corvidae. 



Take them all in all, there is no Family in the 

 whole Order of Perching-Birds whose members 

 have more striking individual traits, or more 

 commanding personality than the Family which 

 contains the ravens, crows, jays and magpies. 

 All these birds are bold and conspicuous, and 

 fond of entering into the affairs of man. The 

 crow feels it to be his duty to assist in planting- 

 operations. The blue-jay robs you, and scolds 

 while he does it. The magpie will hold a fifteen- 

 minute conversation with you, and tell you of 

 all his troubles. Go where you will in the United 

 States, some of the twenty species of birds of 

 this Family will cheerfully bear you company. 



The American Magpie," of the somewhat 

 "wild West," is a beautiful and showy bird, 

 and in winter especially it bravely strives to 

 adorn the bare and bleak valleys, foothills, di- 

 vides and mountain-sides of the Rocky Mountain 

 region. In the whole of the West, I know of no 

 bird more beautiful in flight than this. Its 

 plumage is half glossy-purple black, and half 

 snow-white; and this, with its extremely long 

 tail streaming after it in its flight, makes it a 

 very striking object. In winter the absence 

 of other birds renders the Magpie trebly con- 

 spicuous and welcome. Its flight is slow, dig- 

 nified, and as straight as an arrow. 



The Magpie is fatally fond of fresh meat, 

 and many a fine bird meets its death by devour- 

 ing poisoned meat laid out for wolves. If hos- 

 pitably received, this bird will come close to 

 the haunts and camps of man, investigating 

 everything, and looking for scraps of food. If 

 not fired at, it soon becomes very friendly, and a 

 small cabin easily becomes the haunt of a score 

 of birds. Some of those in the Flying Cage 

 of the New York Zoological Park are at times 

 as amusing as monkeys. They come close up 

 to the wires, and when the visitor bends down, 

 to listen or converse, the}' actually talk — in their 

 language. In low, confidential tones they tell 



2 Pi'ca pi'ca hud-son' i-ca . Length, about IS 

 inches. 



