148 Birds Every Child Should Know 
swaying twig, and not being strong enough to 
fly. Then what a tremendous fuss the parents 
make! They cannot carry the youngster up 
into the tree; they are in deadly fear of cats; 
they are too worried and excited to leave him 
alone ; but the plucky little fellow usually hops 
toward the tree and with the help of his sharp 
claws on the rough bark, flutters his way up 
to the first limb. People who have brought 
up broods of orphan orioles say that they are 
unusually lively, interesting pets. The little 
girl orioles will attempt, instinctively, to weave 
worsted, string, grass, or whatever is given 
them to play with, for of course they never took 
a lesson in weaving from their expert mother. 
THE PURPLE AND THE BRONZED 
GRACKLES 
Called also: Crow Blackbirds 
You probably know either one of our two 
crow blackbirds, similar in size and habits, one 
with purplish, iridescent plumage, the common- 
est grackle east of the Alleghanies and south of 
Massachusetts, and the bronzed grackle, with 
brassy tints in his black plumage, who over- 
runs the Western country and from Massa- 
chusetts northward. Both have uncanny, 
