178 BIRDS OP PENNSYLVANIA. 



GENUS QUISCALUS. VIEILLOT. 

 511. Quisalcus quiscula (LiNN.). 



Purple Grackle; Common Crow Blackbird. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Bill stout, about as long as head ; bill and feet black ; iris yellow. In life may be 

 recognized by the V-shaped tail, so conspicuous when flying. Head and neck all 

 well denned steel-blue, the rest of the body with varied reflections of bronze, golden, 

 green, copper and purple, the latter most conspicuous, especially on tail, the tail- 

 coverts and wings. 



Female. Similar, but smaller and duller, with more green on the head. 



Young. Very similar to female. The eyes of young birds are brown. 



Male. Measures about 13 inches long and 18 inches in extent. 



Hab. Atlantic States, from Florida to Long Island. 



It can safety be said, that of the numerous representatives of the 

 Avian tribes abounding throughout this great Commonwealth, no 

 species is more abundant or familiarly known than is the subject of 

 this article. Early in the month of March this species arrives in Penn- 

 sylvania in large-sized flocks from their wintering resorts, viz : Vir- 

 ginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and other of the Southern States. 



During mild winters, however, I have frequently observed them, in 

 limited numbers, in this section (Chester county), also in the county 

 of New Castle, Delaware; correctly speaking, however, we cannot 

 properly regard these birds as winter residents of the Keystone State. 



For a period of about one month following their vernal arrival they 

 roam over the country, frequenting chiefly meadows, low lands and 

 plowed fields. On the approach of night they collect in large num- 

 bers in some favorite roosting-place, commonly cedar or pine trees. 



Nest-building is usually begun about the middle of April, although 

 on two or three occasions I have found nests, with full complements 

 of eggs, as early as the first week in April. 



In colonies of from ten to twenty, seldom more, individuals they 

 locate themselves for the purpose of nidification and reproduction. 

 In this locality (Chester county) their favorite breeding resorts are 

 apple orchards ; the fruit and other trees commonly about the habita- 

 tions of man. The nest is bulky and rudely constructed externally of 

 rootlets, small twigs, dry plants, bits of corn-blades, etc., somewhat 

 loosely but quite firmly bound together. Mud or mudded materials- 

 frequently enter into the construction of the nest, but this is not 

 always the case ; the interior is lined usually with fine grass ; occa- 

 sionally I have seen leaves and feathers constituting the internal 

 lamina. The construction of the nest occupies about one week ; both 

 sexes engage themselves in its erection. It is built at the junction of 

 two or more large-sized limbs or among the sprouts and matted twigs. 



