218 BIRDS OF ALABAMA 



the greater part of Alabama. Specimens of typical aeneus 

 have been examined from Uniontown (March 1) ; Autauga- 

 ville (April 2) ; Prattville (February 25, December 26) ; Bara- 

 chias (November 18) ; Greensboro (July 17, December, Jan- 

 uary, February) ; Carlton (March 5, 7) ; Woodville (March 

 10), and Leighton (April 20) ; a bird taken at Leighton April 

 30 is intermediate between this form and ridgwayi, but nearer 

 aeneus. A specimen in the Avery collection, taken at Greens- 

 boro, July 17, 1889, was probably a wanderer from some more 

 northern locality. Doubtless the large flocks found in the 

 State during autumn and winter contain a considerable pro- 

 portion of individuals of this, subspecies. 



The habits of this race are closely similar to those of the 

 purple grackle, Quiscalus q. ridgwayi. 



BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE; "JACKDAW:" Megaquiscalus 

 major major (Vieillot). 



State records. — The boat-tailed grackle (fig. 12) is a fairly 

 common resident on the coast, but so far as known does not 

 range into the interior. In Mobile Bay and the smaller bays 

 at its head the bird is locally common, and it breeds also at 

 Alabama Port and in suitable situations in the other bays and 

 on the outer islands. Numbers were seen on Petit Bois Island 

 in June, 1914 (Peters), July and August, 1911 (Gutsell), and 

 on February 12, 1912. Dr. Avery noted a few on Dauphin 

 Island, September 21, 1892, and I saw several small flocks in 

 Bay John in October, 1908. At Bayou Labatre, in November, 

 1915, the bird was frequently seen on the shores of the Sound, 

 and in Duckers Bay, December 2 to 4, 1915, it was common. 

 In Polecat Bay, May 9, 1911, I found 3 nests and in Chuckvee 

 Bay, May 12, several colonies, one numbering 10 or 12 nests. 

 Most of the nests at this date contained 3 eggs in which in- 

 cubation was slightly advanced; several, however, contained 

 3 young a few days old, and one, 4 young just hatched. 



General habits. — This large grackle is in Alabama a strictly 

 maritime bird and feeds chiefly about the coast marshes, the 

 shallow bays, and the shores of Mississippi Sound. Like the 

 other grackles, it is gregarious in habit and nests in small 



