PASSERES—ICTERIDA. 185 
185. (511b.) QuiscALus QuISCULA @NEUS (Ridgw.). 122. 
Bronzed Grackle. 
Synonyms: Quiscalus purpureus var. eneus, Q. versicolor, Q. 
purpureus, Q. #neus. 
Crow Blackbird, Common . Blackbird, Purple Grackle, 
Bronzed Crow Blackbird, Brass Grackle, Western Crow 
Blackbird. 
Kirtland, Ohio Geol. Surv., 1838, 162, 180. 
This is the common “Blackbird” of lawns and shade trees. 
Its steel-blue head and neck and bronze-colored body would 
at once distinguish it from the other blackbirds. Dr. Whea- 
ton states that it is “Found everywhere, but is especially 
numerous in sycamore groves along streams, and in oak 
woodland.” I am not aware that it is now found breeding 
away from the immediate vicinity of human habitations. 
It is particularly numerous at farm dwellings where Lom- 
bardy poplars are numerous, and in towns and parks 
among the evergreen trees. It also roosts in the shade trees 
in parks and along the streets where shade trees form a suf- 
ficiently thick growth. 
There can be no question that this species does more good 
than harm the whole year-throwgh, but that is not saying 
that the birds should always be left to do as they choose. It 
is too true that during the fall, when the small grains are 
standing in shock and the corn is in the milk, the grackles 
do great damage, sometimes descending in immense flocks 
upon a field, filling themselves with the grain. They also 
eat ripe fruit to some extent. During the spring they are 
decidedly beneficial in ridding the newly turned soil of 
grubs and other insect larve. The farmer must be his own 
judge and execute his sentence—if he can. 
The Bronzed Grackles reach northern Ohio during the 
first week in March, not seldom with the other first spring 
birds. At Oberlin the arrivals usually fly first to the trees 
in which the roost was selected the previous summer, and 
then station themselves about town to suit their own fancy. 
The bulk of individuals leave for the south about November 
10, but stragglers remain into December, or rarely all win- 
ter long. 
