163 



ham, Tex., and Gainesville, Tex., the first were seen April 22. The Kan- 

 sas records also were regular, so far as that single State is concerned. 

 They were: Emporia, Kans., April 11 ; Eichmond, Kans., April 15, and 

 Manhattan, Kans., April 18. The eastern records were much earlier. 

 The first came to Paris, 111., April 2; to Heron Lake, Minn., April 12 

 (common there April 16); to Huron, Dak., April 14; to Argusville and 

 Menoken, Dak., April 20 and 21; and to Two Elvers and Shell Eiver, 

 Manitoba, May 1. 



498. Agelaius phoeniceus (Linn.). [261.] Red-winged Blackbird. 



An abundant summer resident in Manitoba and the Mississippi 

 Valley. It breeds abundantly in eastern Texas and in the valley of 

 the Lower Eio Grande. In 1884 sixty-eight observers reported on the 

 movements of this well known bird. But, as in the case of most other 

 species, the number of records from the southern part of the district 

 were few. Enough, however, were received to confirm the belief that 

 these Blackbirds gather in flocks in winter; that they have regular 

 roosts, sometimes in company with Grackles or even Crows; that the 

 females do not always retire so far to the south as the males, or so 

 early in the winter; and that the males precede the females in spring 

 migration. 



At Yazoo City, Miss, (latitude 32° 50'), they were seen u dusting' 7 them- 

 selves with snow in January. At Abbeville, La. (latitude 29° 57'), they 

 are common winter residents. At Caddo, Ind. Ter., they were common 

 during the entire winter of 1883-'84. At Saint Louis, Mo., a flock of 

 females was seen December 29 and again during January. At Manhat- 

 tan, Kans., a few females were seen during January and February, always 

 in warm, cloudy weather. They seem to winter in flocks as far north 

 as Kansas, Missouri, and southern Illinois — say up to latitude 40°. Their 

 accidental occurrence in winter has been noted at various more northern 

 points. At Alda, Nebr. (latitude 40° 53'), three or four were seen every 

 few days during the entire winter coming to the cattle yards to feed. At 

 Lake Mills, Wis. (latitude 43° OG'), an accidental visitor arrived Feb- 

 ruary 19 and was fed with corn by a farmer for several weeks. 



The first northward movement recorded in the spring of 1884 came 

 from Pierce City, Mo. (latitude 30° 56'), where large flocks passed north 

 January 29 and 30. At Saint Louis, January 31, a flock of twenty went 

 north in advance of the Eobins. On January 22 they began to increase 

 in numbers at Caddo, Ind. Ter. The first wave of migration reached 

 Odin and Carlinville, 111., February 12, when large flocks arrived. Feb- 

 ruary 16 additional flocks of migrants arrived at Caddo, Ind. Ter. 



No further progress was recorded until March 11, when large flocks 

 appeared in the lowlands near Saint Louis. On the following day 

 migrants appeared at Osceola and Polo, III. March 15 the first arrived 

 at Fern-, Iowa; Manhattan, Kans. (a flock of young males), and Una- 

 dilla, Nebr. From this date to the close of the month was but a suc- 

 cession of records of appearance, either of first or of bulk, at the 



