BRONZED GRACKLE. 307 



crop of gi-ain, in many places, would probably be destroyed by the time it began to 

 germinate. In winter they collect the mast of the beech and oak for food, and may be 

 seen assembled in large bodies in the woods for this purpose. In the spring season the 

 Blackbirds roost in the cedars and pine trees, to which in the evening they retire with 

 friendly and mutual chatter." 



Crow Blackbirds are, indeed, no desirable acquisitions for a garden or park, as 

 they plunder every nest, which they find. All our "small birds seem to have a standing 

 grudge against this Blackbird and rarely let pass an opportiinity to pursue and harass 

 it. It would seem that this hatred is not without just cause." (Wm, Breyirster.) 



NAMES: Bronzed 'Grackle, Common Blackbird, Common Grackle, Crow Blackbird, Corn-thief, Corn 

 Blackbird. 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Quisdalus xneus Ridgw. (1869). QUISCALUS QUISCULA MNEUS Stejn. (1885J. 



DESCRIPTION: Deep glossy black, "perfectly uniform brassy-olive or bronze" above and below, ''never with 

 mixed tints, and always very abruptly defined against the color (steel-blue, violet, purple, or brassy- 

 green) of neck; wing-coverts never with mixed metallic tints; wings and tail always purplish or 

 violet-purplish, never bluish." 



"Length, 12.75 inches; wing, 5.65; tail, 5.02 inches. — Female, smaller. 



The typical form, the Purple Crackle, is deep black with mixed metallic tints ; wings and tail 

 bluish-violet or bluish. . P 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Gracula quiscala Linn. (1758). Quiscalus versicolor Vieill. (1819). QUISCALUS 

 QUISCULA Jordan (1884). 



The Florida Grackle is smaller, with larger bill. 

 SCIENTIFIC NAMES: QaiscaJus aglteus Brd. (1866). QUISCALUS QUISCULA AGLJBUS Stejn. (1885). 



