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THE RUSTY GRAKLE, OR RUSTY CROW BLACKBIRD. 



■f QuiSCALUS FERRUG-INEUS, Lath. 



■ PLATE CCXXII Male, Female, and Young. 



In the winter months the Rusty Grakle is found as far south as Lower 

 Louisiana and the Floridas, which it reaches in small flocks, along with the 

 Cow Bunting and Red-winged Starling, with which it continues frequently 

 to associate until the return of spring. At this season it occurs in all the 

 Southern and Western States, as well as in the Middle and Eastern Districts, 

 where some remain during the most severe cold. 



These Grakles are fond of the company of cattle, and are seen with them 

 in the pastures or in the farm-yards, searching for food among their drop- 

 pings, and picking up a few grains of the refuse corn. They are less shy 

 than the other species, possibly because less acquainted with man, as they 

 retire to the north for the purpose of breeding. In the winter they fre- 

 quently resort to moist places, such as are met with round the ponds and low 

 swampy meadows, where you sometimes find a single one remaining for 

 weeks apart from its companions. They then feed on aquatic insects and 

 small snails, for which they search diligently among the rank reeds or sedges, 

 which they climb with great agility. Their note is a kind of chuck. It is 

 rare to meet with them in full plumage at this time, even the old males 

 becoming rather rusty, instead of being of a pure glossy black, as they are in 

 spring. 



About the beginning of March, the males are seen moving northwards. 

 They cross the greater part of the United States almost in silence and 

 unheeded, seldom tarrying any where until they reach the State of Maine, 

 where some few remain to breed, while the greater number advance farther 

 north. I saw some of these birds on the Magdeleine Islands, in Newfound- 

 land, as well as in Labrador, where many breed. Their migrations are 

 performed by day. 



In their habits they resemble the Red- winged Starling, becoming loquacious 

 at this season, and having a lively and agreeable song, although less powerful 

 in tone than that of the species just mentioned. Equally fond of the vicinity 

 of meadows or moist places, they construct their nests in the low bushes that 

 occur there. The nest is not so large as that of the Redwing, but is com- 

 posed of much the same materials. In Labrador I found it lined with moss 



Vol. IV. 9 



