NATURE STUDY. 



Volume I. MARCH, 1899. Number 2 



BIRDS OF EARLY SPRING. 



By 

 C. J. MAYNARD. 



THE BRONZED GRACKLE. 



Among ths earliest birds to appear in Massachusetts from the south, if 

 not the first, is the bronzed grackle, or, as it used to be called by the farm- 

 ers of New England, ( and in fact is still called ) the crow blackbird. 



In former days, when there were more farms in the vicinity of Boston 

 than there are now, the crow blackbirds and the farmers were sworn enemies, 

 The farmers declared, and possibly with good reason, that the crow black- 

 birds pulled up their young corn plants, thus thinning out their crops more 

 than was necessary. In fact, it used to be a habit with the agriculturist to 

 put two or three more kernels of corn in a hill than could grow to advan- 

 tage, the extra ones being intended for the crows and crow blackbirds. 



Looking back into the far away days of my childhood, this is one of 

 the first birds that I remember, and it was on account of this very emnity 

 which the farmers bore to them that the crow blackbirds became associated 

 with my eaily recollections.- One of the men employed by my father had 

 shot four or five of them, and to please me, then a child of about three years 

 of age, had given them to me to play Avith. 



How well I remember the irridescent green and purple of the head, and 

 bronze of the back ! both distinguishing marks of this fine species. The long 

 tail and generally trim form also attracted my attention. 



Today, in the vicinity of Boston, the bronzed grackle no longer dreads 

 the gun of the farmer s man. On the contrary, he struts with lordly ease 

 over finely kept lawns, right beneath the windows of the residence of the 

 owner, displaying his beautifully lustrous plumage, and uttering his some- 

 what rusty attempt at a song, all in perfect confidence that he is secure 

 from harm. 



