272 
SUBSPECIES. The Canadian representative of this species is the Bronzed Grackle, 
Quiscalus quiscuia aeneus. 
The Crow Blackbird is a gregarious bird and likes to nest in company 
with its own kind. Evergreens are its favourite nesting trees and it often 
takes possession of ornamental rows, edging gardens. Its metallic colours 
and yellow eyes make it a brilliant and striking bird. It walks with 
comical pomposity over the lawn, or uncouthly gesticulates while it voices 
unusually discordant noises. 
Economic Status. Through the months the bird is in Canada, insects 
constitute 29-7 per cent of its food and vegetable matter 70-3 per cent. 
The insects include useful predaceous species, but not in large numbers. 
The vegetable matter contains about 48 per cent of grain and domestic 
fruit, the remainder being wild fruit, mast, and weed seeds. Much of the 
grain is waste, and the total cultivated fruit is only 2-9 per cent. On the 
whole the work of the Bronzed Grackle is beneficial, but its numbers should 
not be allowed to increase greatly. It is an inveterate nest robber, and 
a poor bird to have about the house if other more attractive species are 
desired, 
FAMILY — FRINGILLIDAE. SPARROWS, LINNETS, FINCHES, OR BUNTINGS 
General Description. As represented in Canada this is generally an easily recognized 
family. It is composed of small birds — no Canadian species being over 8i inches in 
length — with unnotched conical bill adapted for cracking seeds, and the gape of the mouth 
usually decidedly turned down (Figures 259, 260, 261). This latter feature is not 
equally well developed in all species and some of the American Starlings, as previously 
described (page 263), exhibit it strongly; but, having other marked characters, they can be 
easily^distinguished from the Sparrows. 
Figure 259 
Bill of Rose-breasted Gros- 
beak; about natural size. 
Figure 260 
Bill of Song Sparrow; 
about natural size. 
Figure 261 
Billlof Crossbill; about 
natural size- 
Distinctions. The bill is the best point of recognition; that of the ordinary domesti- 
cated Canary is of the characteristic Sparrow type. The birds most likely to be mistaken 
for members of this family are the Bobolink (Figure 254, page 264) and Cowbird (255) of 
the previous family, and the Tanagers of the next one. These are all easily separated by 
their striking colours (See under specific headings). The Tanagers show notches in the 
cutting edges and tip of the mandibles which make them easy to recognize (Figure 273, 
page 301). In one group of Sparrows, the Crossbills, the tips of the bill cross each other 
(Figure 261); in another, the Grosbeaks, the bill is very large and heavy (Figure 259). 
The Sparrows form the largest and most important family of the 
Perchers, and are probably the most important family of birds in the 
world. They are found everywhere except in Australia and are repre- 
sented in all habitats from wet swamps, grassy uplands, and brushy 
thickets, to dry plains and sand-dunes. The terms Sparrow, Linnet, 
Finch, and Bunting are almost synonymous and are applied to various 
species irrespective of their relationship. The name Sparrow is, there- 
