174 



eoine slowly for a week. They are not so abundant in the spring as in 

 the fall. The bulk depart about March 21. The first arrived at Ellis, 

 Kaus., April 5. 



In the spring of 1885 the first Brewer's Blackbird was seen at Pierce 

 Gity, Mo., March 1; at Bichmond, Kans., March 4; Laporte City, Iowa, 

 March 26; and at White Earth, Minn., April 6. 



Mr. Lloyd states that they are a fall migrant in western Texas, occa- 

 sionally wintering in Tom Green County, and that they are abundant 

 in winter in the Nueces Canon. Mr. Kehrling states that they are an 

 abundant winter resident in eastern Texas, and that a few stop to breed 

 in Harris County. 



They are an abundant winter resident in the Lower Bio Grande Val- 

 ley, arriving the first week in October and remaining till April (Merrill). 



511. Quiscalus quiscula (Linn.). ["278.] Purple Grackle. 



This, the typical form of the Purple Grackle, is a bird of the Atlantic 

 coast region, from southern New England to Florida. It has been re- 

 cently recorded as breeding in West Baton Bouge Parish, La , by Dr. F. 

 W. Langdon, who found it common there from the middle of March to 

 the middle of April, 1881. He says of it : 



A common species daring oar stay; apparently breeding April 1 to 15. A few 

 specimens, evidently residents, shot for purposes of identification, proved to be of tbe 

 purpureas form, thus considerably extending the known area of its distribution. 

 (Journ. of the Cincinnati Soc. of Nat. Hist., Vol. IV, 1881, p. 150.) 



511a. Quiscalus quiscula aglasus. (Baird). [278a.] Florida Grackle. 



As its name implies, the true home of this Grackle is in Florida. 

 Thence its range extends westward along the Gulf coast to Louisiana, 

 where it was found by Dr. A. K. Fisher in the spring of 1886. 



511b. Quiscalus quiscula seneus (Ridgw.). [278 &.] Bronzed Grackle. 



This Grackle inhabits all of the Mississippi Yalley from the Gulf far 

 into British America, and thence eastward to the Alleghanies, breeding 

 throughout its range. It is less common on the Plains. All notes on 

 Quiscalus will be treated under this head, whether they have been sent 

 as pertaining to the Purple or Bronzed Grackle, Crow Blackbird, or 

 Boat-tailed Grackle, as it is practically certain that this is the form that 

 has really been seen. There is an interesting and as yet unexplained 

 peculiarity in its winter habitat. Near the Mississippi Biver it is resi- 

 dent as far south as southern Illinois, and it is not uncommon in winter 

 as far north as Minnesota. A fine male \\as seen at Hastings, Minn., 

 December 29, 1883, where it had successfully withstood a temperature 

 of 30 degrees below zero; and during the whole winter of 1881-'82 

 small flocks stayed at various points in the State. In Louisiana* it was 



*Since tbe taking of typical Quiscalus quiscula in Louisiana by Dr. Langdon, and 

 tbe discovery of Quiscalus quiscula aglams near New Orleans by Dr. Fisber, considera- 

 ble doubt attacbes to tbe Louisiana records of tbe present subspecies. A profitable 

 field is open to tbe ambitious student of ornithology who will undertake to ascertain 

 the exact distribution of these three forms in tbe Gulf States.— C. H. M. 



