BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA, 
219 
and some seasons they are not observed before April 1 ; they usually, 
however, come about the middle of March, and frequent chiefly, during* 
their brief sojourn, bushy and marshy situations generally. After 
having reared their young they again make their appearance in this 
state about the middle of October (sometimes as early as the first of 
October), and often are seen as late as the 20th of November. In the 
autumn the Rusty Blackbirds are observed in flocks of from eight 
to a dozen or fifteen, seldom more. At this time they inhabit the 
same localities that were resorted to in spring, and visit also corn 
and other grain fields ; like the Cowbirds, that depart usually by the 
time their rusty-coated relatives arrive, they often frequent pasture 
grounds among the cattle. I have never seen these birds alight on the 
backs of cattle as Crows and Cowbirds sometimes are in the habit of 
doing. The only note I have ever heard this bird utter is a short and 
rather low chuck. The food of this species consists largely of beetles, 
grasshoppers, snails and earth-worms. They feed to considerable ex- 
tent on the seeds of various plants ; different kinds of small berries are 
added to their menu ; the scattered grains of wheat, rye or other cereals, 
which are to be found in the fields and meadows, are likewise eaten. 
When in cornfields they sometimes perch on the shocks and pick from 
the ears a few grains, the damage, however, which they do in this way 
is of but little importance. 
Genus QUISCALUS Yieillot, 
Quiscalus quiscula (Linn.). 
Purple Grackle ; Common Crow Blackbird. 
Description {Plate 61. Fig. l.) 
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 deflned 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. 
Habitat.— Kilsaiiic states, from Florida to Long Island. 
It can safely be said that of the numerous representatives of the Avian 
tribes abounding throughout this great commonw’ealth, 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 Pennsylvania in 
large-sized flocks from their wintering resorts, viz : Virginia, the Caro- 
linas, Georgia and other of the southern states. 
Dmlng mild winters, however, I have frequently observed them, in 
limited numbers, in this section (Chester county), also in the county of 
