202 
ORDERS OP BIRDS— PERCHERS AND SINGERS 
pillars it has few equals among birds. In May, 
insects constitute 92 per cent of its food, and in 
April and July 70 per cent. For the entire year, 
animal food, chiefly caterpillars and beetles, con- 
stitute 83.4 per cent of its food, and vegetable 
matter the remainder of 16.6 per cent. 
The Purple Grackle, or Crow Blackbird , 1 
has prompted scores of persons to ask, “What is 
the name of that very shiny, jet-black bird with a 
long tail?” No wonder it attracts attention, 
especially in contrast with the lustreless rusty 
blackbird. Its color is deep purple-black, and 
it is as shiny as if it had been varnished all over. 
It loves to follow the plough, and pick up the 
big, fat grubs that are exposed to view, before 
they have had time to burrow out of sight. 
Often in their eagerness not to miss a chance, 
these birds will approach within ten feet of the 
plough-handles. It is then that one notices that 
their eyes are light yellow, and very odd-looking. 
This bird has no song, and its sign of content- 
ment with life is like a great asthmatic wheeze. 
The tail of this bird is creased lengthwise along 
the middle, or “keeled.” 
PURPLE CRACKLE. 
Prior to the systematic investigations of the 
Department of Agriculture the value or harm- 
fulness of the Crow Blackbird was in dispute. 
The examination of 2,346 stomachs revealed 
that during an entire year the food supply of 
this bird is made up in the following percentages : 
insect food, 26.9; other animal food, 3.4; corn, 
37.2; oats, 2.9; wheat, 4.8; other grain, 1.6; 
domestic fruit, 2.9; wild fruit, 2.1; weed-seed, 
1 Quis'ca-lus quis'cu-la. Length, about 12 inches. 
4.2; mast, 14; total, 100. “The charge that 
the blackbird is a habitual robber of birds’ nests 
is disproved by the stomach examinations.” 
(F. E. L. Beal.) 
THE CROW FAMILY. 
Corvidae. 
Take them all in all, there is no Family in the 
whole Order of Perching-Birds whose members 
have more striking individual traits, or more 
commanding personality than the Family which 
contains the ravens, crows, jays and magpies. 
All these birds are bold and conspicuous, and 
fond of entering into the affairs of man. The 
crow feels it to be his duty to assist in planting- 
operations. The blue-jay robs you, and scolds 
while he does it. The magpie will hold a fifteen- 
minute conversation with you, and tell you of 
all his troubles. Go where you will in the United 
States, some of the twenty species of birds of 
this Family will cheerfully bear you company. 
The American Magpie , 2 of the somewhat 
“wild West,” is a beautiful and showy bird, 
and in winter especially it bravely strives to 
adorn the bare and bleak valleys, foothills, di- 
vides and mountain-sides of the Rocky Mountain 
region. In the whole of the West, I know of no 
bird more beautiful in flight than this. Its 
plumage is half glossy-purple black, and half 
snow-white; and this, with its extremely long 
tail streaming after it in its flight, makes it a 
very striking object. In winter the absence 
of other birds renders the Magpie trebly con- 
spicuous and welcome. Its flight is slow, dig- 
nified, and as straight as an arrow. 
The Magpie is fatally fond of fresh meat, 
and many a fine bird meets its death by devour- 
ing poisoned meat laid out for wolves. If hos- 
pitably received, this bird will come close to 
the haunts and camps of man, investigating 
everything, and looking for scraps of food. If 
not fired at, it soon becomes very friendly, and a 
small cabin easily becomes the haunt of a score 
of birds. Some of those in the Flying Cage 
of the New York Zoological Park are at times 
as amusing as monkeys. They come close up 
to the wires, and when the visitor bends down, 
to listen or converse, they actually talk — in their 
language. In low, confidential tones they tell 
2 Pi'ca pi'ca hud-son'i-ca. Length, about 18 
inches. 
