Conspicuously Black 



made an unwelcome visit to the neighborhood. It receives the 

 blame for every possible misfortune. 



When seen in the air, the crow is the only other bird for 

 which the raven could be mistaken; but the raven does more 

 sailing and less flapping, and he delights in describing circles as 

 he easily soars high above the trees. On the ground, he is seen 

 to be a far larger bird than the largest crow. The curious beard 

 or fringe of feathers on his breast at once distinguishes him. 



These birds show the family instinct for living in flocks large 

 and small, not of ravens only, but of any birds of their own gen- 

 era. In the art of nest building they could instruct most of their 

 relatives. High up in evergreen trees or on the top of cliffs, 

 never very near the seashore, they make a compact, symmetrical 

 nest of sticks, neatly lined with grasses and wool from the sheep 

 pastures, adding soft, comfortable linings to the old nest from 

 year to year for each new brood. When the young emerge 

 from the eggs, which take many curious freaks of color and mark- 

 ings, they are pied black and white, suggesting the young of the 

 western white-necked raven, a similarity which, so far as plu- 

 mage is concerned, they quickly outgrow. They early acquire the 

 fortunate habit of eating whatever their parents set before them — 

 grubs, worms, grain, field-mice ; anything, in fact, for the raven 

 is a conspicuously omnivorous bird. 



Purple Crackle 



(QtUscalus quiscula) Blackbird family 



Called also: CROW BLACKBIRD ; MAIZE THIEF; KEEL- 

 TAILED CRACKLE 



length — 12 to 13 inches. About one-fourth as large again as the 

 robin. 



Male — Iridescent black, in which metallic violet, blue, copper, 

 and green tints predominate. The plumage of this grackle 

 has iridescent bars. Iris of eye bright yellow and conspic- 

 uous. Tail longer than wings. 



Female— Ltss brilliant black than male, and smaller. 

 Jiange—GuM of Mexico to 57th parallel north latitude. 

 Migrations — Permanent resident in Southern States. Few are 



permanent throughout range. Migrates in immense flocks 



in March and September. 



44 



