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PURPLE GRAKLE, OR COMMON CROW-BLACKBIRD. 
Quiscalus versicolor, Vieill. 
PLATE CCXXI. — Male and Female. 
I could not think of any better mode of representing these birds than that 
which I have adopted, as it exhibits them in the exercise of their nefarious 
propensities. Look at them : The male, as if full of delight at the sight of 
the havoc which he has already committed on the tender, juicy, unripe corn 
on which he stands, has swelled his throat, and is calling in exultation to his 
companions to come and assist him in demolishing it. The female has fed 
herself, and is about to fly off with a well-loaded bill to her hungry and 
expectant brood, that, from the nest, look on their plundering parents, 
joyously anticipating the pleasures of which they shall ere long be allowed 
to participate. See how torn the husk is from the ear, and how nearly 
devoured the grains of corn already are ! This is the tithe our Blackbirds 
take from our planters and farmers ; but it was so appointed, and such is 
the will of the beneficent Creator. 
These birds are constant residents in Louisiana. I say they are so, because 
numbers of them, which in some countries would be called immense, are 
found there at all seasons of the year. No sooner has the cotton or corn 
planter begun to turn his land into brown furrows, than the Crow-Black- 
birds are seen sailing down from the skirts of the woods, alighting in the 
fields, and following his track along the ridges of newly-turned earth, with 
an elegant and elevated step, which shews them to be as fearless and free 
as the air through which they wing their way. The genial rays of the sun 
shine on their silky plumage, and offer to the ploughman’s eye such rich and 
varying tints, that no painter, however gifted, could ever imitate them. The 
coppery bronze, which in one light shews its rich gloss, is, by the least 
motion of the bird, changed in a moment to brilliant and deep azure, and 
again in the next light, becomes refulgent sapphire or emerald-green. 
The bird stops, spreads its tail, lowers its wings, aud, with swelled throat 
and open bill, sounds a call to those which may chance to be passing near. 
The stately step is resumed. Its keen eye, busily engaged on either side, is 
immediately attracted by a grub, hastening to hide itself from the sudden 
exposure made by the plough. In vain does it hurry, for the Grakle has 
seen and marked it for its own, and it is snatched up and swallowed in a 
moment. 
Thus does the Grakle follow the husbandman as he turns one furrow after 
