34 THE RED-WINGED STARLING. 



it was seen breeding, sometimes within a few yards of houses. The same 

 occurred on the Florida Keys. The only part of the country visited by me 

 in which I found it wanting is Labrador, although it is known to breed in 

 some portions of the interior of Newfoundland. In many instances I found 

 it nestling in the Floridas on Mangroves and low bushes, in the vicinity of 

 the nests of Cormorants and our smaller Herons, and even sometimes in the 

 midst of them. 



In speaking of this species, Dr. Richardson mentions a circumstance 

 relative to its habits of which I was not aware. "On its first arrival (the 

 beginning of May) it feeds on grubs; but as soon as the grain sown in the 

 vicinity of (he trading posts begins to germinate, it associates itself with 

 Saffron-headed Maize-birds and Boat-tails (Common Crow Blackbird), and 

 is occupied the whole day in tearing up and devouring the sprouting plants, 

 returning to the work of devastation as often as driven away." He states 

 that it does not pass the 57th parallel. 



The attachment of this bird to the locality which it has selected for breed- 

 ing, is illustrated by the following note of my friend Dr. Thomas M. Brewer 

 of Boston. "A pair of these birds constructed a nest in a small clump of 

 bushes near a brook in Roxbury, and deposited four eggs, which were taken 

 away. They then built a nest within a foot of the first, in which the same 

 number of eggs was laid, and in like manner abstracted. Undeterred by this 

 want of success, they again constructed a nest in the same clump, and this 

 time without molestation. This fact is perhaps trivial in itself, but the same 

 can hardly be told of any other species." The eggs measure in length seven- 

 eighths and three-fourths, and in breadth five and a half eighths. 



At Galveston I observed flocks of female Red-winged Starlings congre- 

 gated, and to all appearance migrating. This shews that migration in birds 

 is far from being regular, but is dependent on many accidental circumstances, 

 such as difference of temperature at certain seasons when they are supposed 

 usually to move, or storms, or want of proper food. 



Dr. Bachjian writes thus to me: — "You speak of the Red-winged Star- 

 lings as nearly all proceeding to the coast to breed. They breed very 

 abundantly in all the low marshy grounds of Carolina, and in all the inter- 

 mediate places to the Northern States. The young birds in autumn that I 

 have procured from the young guinea-corn and rice-fields were fat, and in 

 taste fully equal to the Robin. I am not aware, that you have mentioned 

 that, when a year old, though not full-plumaged, they breed like those that 

 are older. Indeed, nearly all our birds breed when a year old, however 

 imperfect their plumage; I cannot recollect any species that does not." 



I have represented a male and a female in the adult state, and a male in 

 the first spring, and have placed them on the branch of a water maple, these 

 birds being fond of alighting on trees of that kind, in early spring, to pick 



