THE PERCHING Birps. 137 
are ancient history, at least here in the Middle 
States. 
It is a pleasant thing to hear these grakles twang 
their loose-strung harps. They slightly uplift their 
wings, spread their boat-shaped tails, and then utter 
the strange sound that is neither song nor chirp, but 
a metallic and sibilant sound combined. 
At times these birds may be said to be quite 
aquatic in their habits. They run along the river- 
shore hunting food of every kind, for all is good 
grain that comes to their grist-mill, and have the 
same teetering walk and tilting of the tail as the 
sand-pipers exhibit when they walk upon the beach; 
but the grakles are good swimmers as well, and often 
light upon the water, swim a short distance, and rise 
up as easily as a duck; and, too, they can dip down 
gracefully and seize a morsel of food thrown over 
from a passing steamboat. 
Nest of Acadian Flycatcher. 
12* 
