173 



Aughey, traverse Nebraska in large numbers every spring — get around 

 Dakota on their way to Manitoba and Alaska. Colonel Gross records 

 it as a winter bird iu eastern Kansas. 



The only good record received of the occurrence together of both 

 species in spring is that given by Mr. IsTehrling, who noted a few Rusty 

 Grackles in March, 1881, in company with the flocks of Brewer's near 

 Houston, Tex.; but that was before the Brewer's Blackbirds had com- 

 menced their migration. 



In the spring of 1881 the Rusty Grackle commenced its northward 

 journey about the last of February, appearing at Manhattan, Kans., 

 where it usually winters, February 13, and at Saint Louis February 

 26. No further advance was made until after the " second winter;" 

 then they moved again, reaching Des Moines, Iowa, March 22 ; Cfiicago, 

 March 29; Lanesboro, Minn., March 30; and West Depere, Wis., 

 April 16. Along latitude 39° in Central Missouri and Illinois the time 

 of greatest abundance was March 21. At Saint Louis the bulk left 

 March 25, and the last was seen April 5. 



In the fall of 1884 the first Rusty Blackbird was seen at Des Moines, 

 Iowa, October 23; the bulk arrived October 28; and the last left No- 

 vember 8. 



In the spring of 1885 regular migration did not commence until 

 March. The species appeared at Reeds, Mo., March 2 ; Paris, 111., 

 March 3 (and again March 5) ; Saint Louis, Mo., March 14, and the 

 same day at Des Moines, Iowa. April 6 they were noted from Lanes- 

 boro, Minn. ; April 22, from Argusville, Dak. : and April 24, from 

 River Falls, Wis. The last was seen at Saint Louis, Mo., April 14, 

 and at Lanesboro, Minn., April 22. 



In the fall of 1885 they were present in large flocks at Iowa City, 

 Iowa, October 24; and the last one was seen at River Falls, Wis., Oc- 

 tober 23. At Saint Louis, Mo., the first was seen October 9, and large 

 flocks were going south October 27. A single bird was taken at Gaines- 

 ville, Tex., in January, 1886. 



510. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus (Wagl.). [274.] Bt ewer's. Blackbird. 



As mentioned in speaking of the preceding species, Brewer's Black- 

 bird is a western bird, coming east to eastern Kansas and Minnesota 

 and occasionally to Illinois. Its true home is from the eastern edge of 

 the Plains westward. It winters from western Kansas southward, and 

 breeds over most of its range. In western Manitoba it is an abundant 

 summer resident, and a few breed at Vermillion, Dak. At Caddo, 

 Ind. Ter., it was the most abundant Blackbird in the winter of 1883-'84. 

 During the spring and fall there were clouds of them, and many flocks 

 stayed all winter. That they breed there is shown from the fact that a 

 bird was found which was too young to fly. By March 5 their winter 

 numbers had scarcely increased, from which fact it is pretty safe to 

 conclude that few winter directly south of Caddo, the bulk passing to 

 the southwest. March 15 they were most numerous, the bulk having 



