CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 535 



passes as a ' crow blackbird,' as it indeed seems to be, when 

 seen flying, or is in company with the Quiscali. There is no 

 marked difference in the habits of this bird as compared with allied 

 species, and in so far as usefulness and destructiveness are con- 

 cerned, is upon a par with them. It is probable that this species 

 is found in New Jersey only occasionally, as search for it has 

 proved unsuccessful in about two summers of every five. — 

 [C.C.A.] 



" Low meadow lands and the immediate neighborhood of our 

 rivers and larger creeks, are their favorite haunts, and in trees, 

 in such situations, they build their nests. Small fresh- water 

 shells and .spiders are eagerly devoured by them, and on 'such 

 food they preferably subsist, when obtainable ; at least, such is 

 the case so far as their habits have been noticed by the author. 



" This bird is easily distinguished from the grackle by the 

 marked difference in the bill, and the general ferruginous tint of 

 the plumage. They seldom remain after the middle of Sep- 

 tember, appearing to be remarkably sensitive to atmospheric 

 changes." 



QUISCALUS, Vieill. 



Q. quisoula, L. {versicolor.) Purple Grackle. Crow Blackbird. 



Iridescent black ; wings scarcely longer than tail ; luster on 

 head purplish, on body bronzy. Length, 13 inches; tail, 5 J 

 inches. 



" Purple grackles, or crow blackbirds, as they are more gener- 

 ally known, are very abundant throughout most portions of the 

 State, from February 15th until November ; and not unfrequently 

 single specimens or two or three together are met with during the 

 winter. In proportion as meadow lands abound, especially when 

 skirted by well-grown timber, they appear to be numerous, and 

 during the whole of their stay they are gregarious, though never 

 seen in such immense flocks as in the case of the ' red-wing.' 



"About April 25th nidification commences, and generally a 

 large number of nests are in close proximity ; occasionally three 

 upon the same tree, if the tree be large or bushy, as a cedar or 

 hemlock. Very frequently an orchard will be the favored locality 

 with the grackles, and the author has seen in an orchard of 

 seventy trees one hundred and thirty-one nests, being nearly two 



