60 
PURPLE GRAKLE. 
servants as they spread over the field ! Now and then the report of a gun 
comes on the ear. The Grakles have scarcely a single moment of quiet ; 
they are chased, stolen upon, and killed in great numbers, all the country 
round ; but the hungry birds heed not the slaughter of their brethren. They 
fly in flocks from place to place, and, in spite of all that the farmer has done 
or threatens to do, continue their depredations. Food must be had. Grubs 
and worms have already retired to their winter quarters within the earth ; 
no beech-nuts or acorns have yet fallen from the trees ; corn is now their 
only resource, and the quantity of it which they devour is immense. 
Now gloomy November brings up its cold blasts from the north, and 
drives before it the Grakles from the Eastern States. They reach Louisiana 
and all the Southern States when autumn has not yet retired, when the 
weather is still mild and serene, and the yellow foliage of the wide woods 
gives shelter to myriads of birds. The Grakles, congregated in prodigious 
flocks, alight on the trees that border the vast forests, covering every twig 
and bough in such astonishing masses, that the most unskilful or most 
avaricious gunner finds no difficulty in satisfying his wish for sport or game. 
This is the time to listen to their choruses. They seem to congratulate 
each other on their escape, and vociferate at such a rate as to make one 
imagine their number double what it is. 
Beech-nuts and acorns are now abundant in the woods, having by this 
time fallen from the trees, and the Grakles roam in quest of them in immense 
bodies, rising on wing when disturbed, uttering at the same time a tremen- 
dous noise, then making a few rounds, and alighting again. They thus 
gradually clear away the mast, in the same manner as the wild pigeons are 
wont to do. As the weather becomes colder, they frequent the farms, and 
even resort to the cattle pens, where, from among the litter and refuse 
straw, they pick the scattered grains that have fallen from the stores with 
which the farmer has supplied his stock. They remain about the farms 
until the commencement of spring. They are easily caught in traps, and 
shew little fear when seized, biting so severely as often to draw blood, and 
laying hold Avitli their claws in a very energetic manner. 
During the winter of 1821 I caught a number of them, as well as many 
other birds, for the purpose of sending them alive to Europe. The whole 
of my captives were confined together in a large cage, where they were well 
fed and watered, and received all necessary attention. Things went on 
favourably for several days, and T with pleasure saw them becoming daily 
more gentle. An unexpected change, hoAvever, soon took place, for as the 
Grakles became reconciled to confinement, they began to attack the other 
birds, beating and killing one after another so fast that I was obliged to 
remove them from the cage. Even this did not prevent further breach of 
the peace, for the strong attacked and killed the weak of their own race, so 
