PURPLE GRAKLE. 159 



A singular attachment frequently takes place between this bird and 

 the Fish-Hawk. The nest of this latter is of very large dimensions, 

 often from three to four feet in breadth, and from four to five feet high ; 

 composed, externally, of large sticks or faggots, among the interstices 

 of which sometimes three or four pairs of Crow Blackbirds will con- 

 struct their nests, while the Hawk is sitting or hatching above. Here 

 each pursues the duties of incubation, and of rearing their young ; 

 living in the greatest harmony, and mutually watching and protecting 

 each other's property from depredators. 



Note. — The Gracula quiscala of the tenth edition of the Systema 

 Naturce was established upon Catesby's Purple Jackdaw. This bird is 

 common in Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, where it is still known by 

 the name of Jackdaw ; whereas the Purple Grakle of Wilson is called 

 Blackbird, or Crow Blackbird. The latter is also common in the states 

 south of Virginia ; but the Jackdaw, after rearing its young, retires 

 further south on the approach of winter ; whereas the Purple Grakle 

 hyemates in the southern section of our Union, and migrates, in the 

 spring, to the Middle and Northern States to breed. The female of the 

 Crow Blackbird is dark sooty-brown and black ; the female of the Jack- 

 daw is " all over brown," agreeably to Catesby's description. This 

 author states the weight of the Jackdaw to be six ounces ; the weight 

 of the Crow Blackbird seldom exceeds four ounces and a half. That 

 the two species have been confounded there is no doubt ; and it is not 

 easy to disembroil the confusion into which they have been thrown by 

 naturalists, who have never had an opportunity of visiting the native 

 regions of both. It is evident that Catesby thought there was but one 

 species of these birds in Carolina, otherwise he would have discovered 

 that those which he observed during the winter in great flocks, were dif- 

 ferent from his Jackdaws, which is the proper summer resident of that 

 State, although it is probable that some of the Crow Blackbirds are also 

 indigenous. The true Gracula harita of Linnaeus is not yet satisfac- 

 torily ascertained ; the Boat-tailed Grakle of Latham's General Synop- 

 sis is unquestionably the Purple Grakle of Wilson. The best figures 

 of the Purple Jackdaw which we have seen, are those given in Bona- 

 parte's Ornithology, vol. 1, pi. 4. They were drawn by Mr. Alexander 

 Rider of Philadelphia, (not by Mr. Audubon, as is stated,) from speci- 

 mens brought from East Florida by Mr. Titian Peale and myself. — 

 a. Ord. 



