62 PURPLE GRAKLE. 



annoyance. Some of the Pennsylvania farmers, from a very laudable motive, 

 have given out that Grakles are fond of pulling up the garlic plant, so inju- 

 rious to the pastures of the Middle States; but I am sorry to say this assertion 

 is by no means correct, and were these good people to look to the Grakles 

 for the clearing of their fields from that evil, they might wait long enough. 



The flesh of the Purple Grakle is little better than that of the Crow, being 

 dry and ill-flavoured, notwithstanding which it is frequently used, with the 

 addition of one or two Golden-winged Woodpeckers or Redwings, to make 

 what is here called pot pie, even amidst a profusion of so many better things. 

 The eggs, on the contrary, are very delicate, and I am astonished that those 

 who are so anxious for the destruction of these birds do not gratify their 

 wishes by eating them while yet in the egg. In some parts of Louisiana, 

 the planters steep the seed corn for a few hours in a solution of Glauber's 

 salt, to deter the Grakles and other birds from eating the grains when just 

 planted. 



The Purple Grakle travels very far north. I have found it everywhere 

 during my peregrinations, and in one or two instances have seen it form its 

 nest in the fissures of rocks. 



According to Dr. Richardson, this species reaches the plains of the 

 Saskatchewan in the beginning of May, in flocks of from twenty to a hundred, 

 the males and females separate; and, as in Pennsylvania, several pairs nestle 

 on the branches of the same tree. I have found it dispersed over the coun- 

 try from Texas to Nova Scotia, but met with none in Newfoundland or 

 Labrador. It was not observed by Dr. Townsend on the Columbia river. 



Dr. Bachman, who has seen it building in the hollows of trees, and in 

 abandoned nests of Woodpeckers, has observed it carrying grass and mud 

 for the construction of its nest. It breeds in like situations in Louisiana, 

 without using these materials; and in the middle and northern districts forms 

 a fine, well-finished nest, such as I have described. The eggs measure one 

 inch and half an eighth in length, by five and a half eighths in breadth, are 

 of a bluish-white colour, blotched, streaked, and spotted with brown and 

 black. On the Florida Keys I found this species breeding in low mangroves, 

 in communities, along with the White-headed Pigeon, Columba leuco- 

 cephala, and thought that the glossy richness of the plumage far exceeded 

 that of our northern birds; yet, on close examination, I could observe no 

 other difference in them. I have also found them breeding westward of the 

 mouths of the Mississippi, as far as the Texas. 



Purple Grakle, Gracula guiscala, WiJs. Amer. Orn., vol. iii. p. 44. 



Pcrple Grakle, Gracula quiscala, Bonap. Amer. Orn., vol. i. p. 42. 



Gracdla qciscala, Bonap. Syn., p. 54. 



Common Crow Blackeird, Quiscalus versicolor, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 194; vol. v. p. 481. 



