60 PURPLE GRAKLE. 



servants, as they spread over the field ! Now and then the report of a gun 

 comes on the ear. The Grakles have scarcely a single moment of quiet; 

 they are chased, stolen upon, and killed in great numbers, all the country 

 round; but the hungry birds heed not the slaughter of their brethren. They 

 fly in flocks from place to place, and, in spite of all that the farmer has done 

 or threatens to do, continue their depredations. Food must be had. Grubs 

 and worms have already retired to their winter quarters within the earth; no 

 beech-nuts or acorns have yet fallen from the trees; corn is now their only 

 resource, and the quantity of it which they devour is immense. 



Now gloomy November brings up its cold blasts from the north, and 

 drives before it the Grakles from the Eastern States. They reach Louisiana 

 and all the Southern States when autumn has not yet retired, when the 

 weather is still mild and serene, and the yellow foliage of the wide woods 

 gives shelter to myriads of birds. The Grakles, congregated in prodigious 

 flocks, alight on the trees that border the vast forests, covering every twig 

 and bough in such astonishing masses, that the most unskilful or most 

 avaricious gunner finds no difficulty in satisfying his wish for sport or game. 

 This is the time to listen to their choruses. They seem to congratulate each 

 other on their escape, and vociferate at such a rate as to make one imagine 

 their number double what it is. 



Beech-nuts and acorns are now abundant in the woods, having by this 

 time fallen from the trees, and the Grakles roam in quest of them in immense 

 bodies, rising on wing when disturbed, uttering at the same time a tremen- 

 dous noise, then making a few rounds, and alighting again. They thus 

 gradually clear away the mast, in the same manner as the wild pigeons are 

 wont to do. As the weather becomes colder, they frequent the farms, and 

 even resort to the cattle pens, where, from among the litter and refuse straw, 

 they pick the scattered grains that have fallen from the stores with which 

 the farmer has supplied his stock. They remain about the farms until the 

 commencement of spring. They are easily caught in traps, and shew little 

 fear when seized, biting so severely as often to draw blood, and laying hold 

 with their claws in a very energetic manner. 



During the winter of 1821, I caught a number of them, as well as many 

 other birds, for the purpose of sending them alive to Europe. The whole 

 of my captives were confined together in a large cage, where they were well 

 fed and watered, and received all necessary attention. Things went on 

 favourably for several days, and I with pleasure saw them becoming daily 

 more gentle. An unexpected change, however, soon took place, for as the 

 Grakles became reconciled to confinement, they began to attack the other 

 birds, beating and killing one after another so fast that I was obliged to 

 remove them from the cage. Even this did not prevent further breach of 

 the peace, for the strong attacked and killed the weak of their own race, so 



