212 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
The Red-wing-, like the Crow Blackbird, destroys large numbers of 
“cut- worms.” I have taken from the stomach of a single Swamp Black- 
bird as many as twenty-eight “ cut- worms.” In addition to the insects, 
etc., mentioned above, these birds also, during their residence with 
us, feed on earth-worms, grasshoppers, crickets, plant-lice and various 
larvae, so destructive at times in the field and garden. During the sum- 
mer season, fruits of the blackberry, raspberry, wild strawberry, and 
wild cherry are eaten to a more or less extent. The young, while under 
parental care, are fed exclusively on an insect diet. 
Dr. Coues, writing of this species, says : “ From its general disper- 
sion in low or wet thickets or fields, swamps and marshes, the blackbird 
collects in August and September in immense flocks, thronging the ex- 
tensive tracts of wild oats and other aquatic plants in marshes and along 
water-courses, also visiting and doing much damage to grain-fields. 
Thousands are destroyed by boys and pot-hunters, but the hosts scarcely 
diminish, and every known artifice fails to protect the crops from inva- 
sion of the dusky hordes. At other seasons the ‘ maize-thief ’ is innocu- 
ous, if not positively beneficial, as it destroys its share of insects.” — 
Key, p. JjOJf. In the rice-growing states the Red-winged Blackbird 
ranks next to the Reed-bird in its ravages on the rice fields. Tlieo. 
S. Wilkinson, Myrtlegrove plantation, lower coast, Louisiana, writes as 
follows in the annual report (1886), issued by Ornithologist Dr. 0. Hart 
Merriam, U. S. Dept, of Agr., Washington, D. C. : “ The rice crop in 
Louisiana, from the time the rice is in the milk till harvest time and 
during harvesting, is much damaged by birds, principally the Red- 
shouldered Blackbird. Shooting is the only remedy thus far resorted to 
which is at all effective, and it is only partially so. I have known rice 
crops to be destroyed to the extent of over 50 per cent., which is a loss 
of say $13 per acre. While this is an extreme case, a damage and ex- 
pense of from $5 to $10 per acre is very common. 
“ The average yield per acre is about 30 bushels, worth now (March 12, 
1886) about 80 cents per bushel.” 
Genus XANTHOCEPHALUS Bonaparte. 
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonap.). 
Yellow-headed Blackbird. 
Description. 
Bill conical and about twice as long as high ; wings longer than tail ; first primary 
longest. 
Male. —General color black, including lores, and some feathers about eyes and 
lower bill ; rest of head, the neck and breast, also few feathers about vent yellow ; 
showy white patch on wing. The female is smaller, and dark brown ; top of head 
brown ; line over eye, throat and breast dull yellow ; no white wing patch. Length, 
male about IO5 ; extent about 16 ^ ; bill and legs (dried skin) blackish. 
