MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
165 
over the dead reeds or hunting industriously in the decaying vegetable matter 
for food. At first, seeds constitute the principal article, although refuse and 
a few insects are sometimes eaten. The red-wings, like many other members 
of the marsh family are eminently gregarious. Upon arriving in the spring, 
the courting begins at once, although nest building must.be delayed for several 
weeks, as no nests are built until the cattails are nearly grown. The females 
spend much of their time walking about among the dead, broken down herb- 
age, probably seeking^food, but the males strut about on the limbs of the 
near-by trees, their feathers ruffled'up and body swelled out. 
During the spring, the principal food, as determined by thirty stomach 
examinations, is grubmorms, caterpillars and other larvae. Grasshoppers, 
crickets and earthworms are relished and a stomach is seldom examined 
which does not contain at least qne of these forms. As soon as the weather 
becomes warm enough for these insects to appear, the red-wings may be 
seen walking about the swampy meadow searching diligently for them. 
Snails when found are greedily eaten as are also the crayfish and dead animal 
matter found along the river bank. Beetles of several kinds are eaten, 
but not extensively. At this time of the 'year few seeds remain, therefore 
constituting a small part of the diet. It is worthy of note that during this 
period, the* red-wings are seldom met with outside of the masrh and so must 
procure the bulk of their food in it. This becomes more significant when 
we consider that within a short distance are stubble fields thickly overgrown 
with weeds, while several nearby fields are under cultivation and would 
furnish many grubs as well as scattered corn and wheat. None of the stomachs 
examined contained any kind of grain. 
Although not shy, they will yiot allow a close approach and rise up in a 
clamoring, motley flock, which wheels about to alight in some nearby tree 
or further out on the marsh. During.the time elapsing between their arrival 
from the south and nesting, the red-wings may usually be found scattered 
over the entire swamp, but with the coming of the breeding season they 
collect in the clumps of cattails, where in a short time the nests will be built. 
The females now seem more retiring than ever, seldom flying far or even 
venturing out from the sheltering cattails except to feed. The males, how- 
ever, keep up their singing and display. The first nests are uuallv completed 
by the middle of May, the- earliest record for complete sets being May 9, 
1902. The material for the nest is gathered in the immediate vicinity, 
being- composed of dead flags, pieces of cattails, reeds, and sedges, and lined 
with fine dry grasses. As they are usually fastened to several stems they 
are often pensile. A few are found placed in tussocks of sedge. The eggs 
vary in number from three to five and show a surprising .variation in color, 
markings, and size. 
When the nesting grounds are entered, a great commotion occurs. All the 
red-wings gather to drive the intruder away, but though reinforced by large 
numbers from the neighboring breeding sites, they do not dare approach the 
stranger, but with the gathering throng keep up a clamour sufficient to alarm 
every bird within half a mile. If the young are in the nests the parents grow 
bolder and circle above the heads of the trespasser the cries of distress from 
the nestlings sometimes drawing them within a few feet. After the first brood 
Js reared, another nest is started. Two or three broods are usually raised. 
With the hatching of the first set, the red-wings range over a greater terri- 
tory seeking food, probably because of the greater strain put upon them 
now that four or five growing young have to be fed. But even at this time, 
a red-wing is seldom met with outside of the swamp, which clearly demon- 
