YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. 249 



marshes of extensive prairies, never in swamps located in forest regions or where fields 

 and woods alternate. The Yellowhead is therefore pre-eminently a prairie bird. I have 

 observed this beautiful and interesting species in great abundance in the Calumet marshes 

 of northern Illinois, and in the Koshkonong and Horicon marshes of Wisconsin. Its 

 breeding range extends from Texas and New Mexico northward to the interior of the 

 fur countries, where it was found to latitude 58°, and from Illinois to California. In 

 Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, the Dakotas, and Manitoba the Yellow-headed Blackbirds are 

 found in large communities, but their occurrence is always restricted to extensive 

 marshes. In some localities in California they are exceedingly abundant. Prof. Robert 

 Ridgway reports that they abound in the marshes of California and that they even 

 exceed the Redwings in number. Frequently their nests filled the rushes of their breeding 

 places. Dr. Elliott Coues found them in large numbers in Kansas and New Mexico. 

 Thousands were breeding in a marshy place near Laguna, just west of the Rio Grande, 

 and they were also seen by him in eastern Arizona, but not in such plenty. About 

 Klamath Lake, Oregon, they also have been found in abundance. They are said to 

 reach the Saskatchewan by the 20th of May. Single specimens have been recorded from 

 Florida,' Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and even from Greenland, and this erratic appear- 

 ance in localities so remote from their usual habitat and from their route of migration 

 sufliciently attests the nomadic character of the species. 



Twenty years ago this beautiful bird was a characteristic and abundant summer 

 sojourner on the Calumet marshes and of Calumet Lake, near which the city of Pullman 

 has since sprung up as if by magic. At that time I had an excellent opportunity of 

 observing these birds. I first visited the colonies of Yellowheads on June 10, 1878, 

 Calumet Lake was then situated in the wide open prairie, about a mile from Kensington. 

 The shallow water was bordered with a dense growth of reeds which ultimately attained 

 a height of from six to eight feet. No tree, no shrub was found anywhere near this 

 body of w^ater, and only toward south-east the eye met a wooded elevation. It was 

 a beautiful, warm day especially adapted for roaming about in quest of birds and 

 flowers. At a distance of almost a half a mile I noticed these birds already in great 

 numbers, and when I came nearer I alsot heard their voices. Large numbers were search- 

 ing in the low^ prairie for food, and small flocks were incessantly flying away, while 

 others were returning. Many were busy collecting and carrying nesting material. When 

 I approached the edge of the water more closely I heard their noisy guttural and 

 whistling sounds. Hundreds of them were gamboling and flying about among the 

 rushes, or they were perched on the stalks of these plants which w^ere bending under 

 their weight. All of them were exceedingly active, and their movements among the 

 reeds as well as on the ground were graceful and adroit. I found qui^e a number of 

 nests in all stages of completion. Being all situated quite a distance from the shore, 

 they could not be approached without the aid of a canoe. I attempted to reach several 

 of the nearest by wading, but the water became deeper and deeper so that I had to 

 return. When I paddled my small canoe with much difficulty through the rushes I had 

 the good opportunity of examining many of the nests. They often were scarcely three 

 feet apart and were built only a few inches above the water. They were attached to 

 tall reeds or rushes, usually in the midst of clumps of the latter, and these were so 



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