birds but takes a variety of other small creatures also and is not averse to 
partaking of carrion. In some cases, f#tm man's point of view, its numbers 
may aopear to be in need of control, The nest may be only s« flattened place 
in marsh vegetation, but sometimes is built up a little with sticks of other 
material. Usually 3 to 6 eges are laid, bluish or greenish white, sometimes 
faintly spotted. 
Red-winged Blackbird 
The red-winged blackbird inhabits the whole United States, so perhaps 
nesds no introduction,’ other than calling attention to its bright red, yel- 
low-bordered epaulets, and its gurgling okatee call. This is uttered at al- 
most regular intervals by the males in spring after they have reached the 
breeding grounds and "staked out a cleim", where they await the coming of 
their mates. Redwings may be seen along the entire coast line in summer, 
and from Massachusetts soutn in winter. The bird is distinctly migratory, 
however, and the summer and winter populations of a given area no doubt are 
almost always different groups of individuals. .The female is smaller, 
brownish-black above, and more or less buffy and dark strealzed below. The 
Sexes share «a chuck note which is uttered often. This blackbird often 
builds its grassy nest among the stat#8 of marsh plants, but sometimes also 
in bushes. The eggs, 2 to 5 in number, are pale bluish green, spotted, 
blotched, and scrawled with brown to vurplish. When scattered, redwings 
probably do more good than harm by their feeding habits, but they often 
flock in great numbers after the oreeding season, and when so congregated, 
their visits to grainfields may be disastrous and call for control measures, 
Mcadow Lark 
The meadow lark, a plum bird, brownish ebove, yellow below, with a 
black crescent on the breast, and white feathers on each side of the tail 
Showing plainly in flight, may be found in the marsh-hay zone of the salt 
Marshes in winter, and it breeds in it from Virginia north. It is some- 
times called "marsh quail",’ and formerly was considered a game bird. It 
is e highly insectivorous snecies, however, and deserves protection, except 
on forays into fields of sprouting corn, peas, and peanuts, and into ripen- 
ing tomatoes in the South during its spring migration. Permits to shoot the 
birds under such circumsiences have been granted, but in general the meadow 
lark well merits the legal protection it receives. Grasshoppers, beetles, 
bugs, and caterpillars are the leading cinds of animal food eaten. The 
meadow lark builds its nest in grass, usually leaving an arch of vegetation 
Over It so that it is not easyto find..-The eggs are 3 to 7, white, blotch- 
ed, and speckled, with brown, purple, or lavender. 
Marsh Wren 
Marsh wrens in various slightly differing forms vreed in suitable 
places throvehout the country and winter sparingly from New Jersey south. 
Atlantic-coast salt marshes are favorite haunts, especially those parts 
consisting of cattails. Like all wrens these little birds are the embodi- 
ment of restless energy, end they sing over and over a hurried series of 
bubbling, lilting notes. Besides the globular nest woven among and large- 
ly composed of cattails, and lined with their down, in which the 5 to 10 
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