BLACKBIRDS. 57 



to the rice industry of Arkansas, but on account of the comparatively 



small number of these birds which migrate through the Mississippi 



Valley the damage done by them will be much less severe than on the 



Atlantic coast. 



Cowbird. Molothrus ater. 



The cowbird occurs locally in moderate numbers over most of the State. 

 It has been reported as a breeder at Clinton, Newport, Big Lake, and 

 Delight, and I found it in the breeding season at Stuttgart, McGehee, 

 Wilmot, Camden, Gurdon, Mena, Pettigrew, and Mammoth Spring. 

 At McGehee it was fairly numerous in the clearings and more open 

 timber, and one of its eggs was found, May 16, in a yellow-breasted 

 chat's nest. There is only one report of its occurrence in the State 

 in winter — at Helena — but doubtless it will be found to be plentiful 

 at that season. At Stuttgart I was told that this species joins other 

 blackbirds in depredations on rice, but up to date no serious damage 

 to this newly established industry has been reported. The food of 

 the cowbird consists largely of weed seed, with the addition of grain 

 and insects in about equal proportions. It has been found to capture 

 limited numbers of boll weevils. 



Yellow-headed Blackbird. Xantkocephalus xanthocephalus. 

 This western species probably occurs occasionally in western Arkan- 

 sas, since it is known to breed as near the State as Jasper County, 

 Mo. The only record seems to be that given by Cabot, of a speci- 

 men said to have been taken in Arkansas by Maj. Townsend and 

 donated to the Boston Society of Natural History. 1 



Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius phceniceus phceniceus. 

 The redwing is an abundant resident in many sections of the 

 State, particularly on the prairies and throughout the marshy areas 

 of the eastern part. It is known to breed at Lake City, Stuttgart, 

 Mammoth Spring, Helena, Wilmot, and Chester. It was abundant 

 on the prairie at Stuttgart and several nests were found, May 12, 

 containing one to four eggs. In that locality, blackbirds were reported 

 to do some damage to sprouting rice, and probably this species 

 is largely responsible for the depredations. In winter also the 

 redwing is abundant in the State, as indicated by reports from 

 Fayetteville (Harvey), Van Buren (Hanna), and Stuttgart (Hol- 

 lister). Its food consists largely of weed seed, with a small amount 

 of grain (oats, corn, and wheat) and a fair proportion (about 25 per 

 cent) of insects, among which a few boll weevils have been found. 



Thick-billed Redwing. Agelaius phceniceus fortis . 

 This northwestern form of the red-winged blackbird occurs in 

 Arkansas only as a migrant and winter visitant, and it is probably 

 rather rare. Only one record is known — that of a bird taken by 

 Mr. G. Dallas Hanna at Van Buren, December 10, 1910. 



i Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., II, p. 259, 1847. 



