PURPLE GRAKLE. 
61 
that only a few remained in the end. The Grakles thus mangled, killed and 
partially devoured several Cardinal Grosbeaks, Doves, Pigeons, and Blue 
Jays. I look upon this remarkable instance of ferocity in the Grakle with 
the more amazement, as I never observed it killing any bird when in a state 
of freedom. 
What I have said respecting the Purple Grakle (which by some is impro- 
perly named the Boat-tailed Grakle) refers particularly to the habits of those 
in the south, where some of them are found at all seasons. I shall now 
speak of those of the Western and Middle States. Most of these birds leave 
the south about the middle of February, setting out in small detached flocks. 
They reach the State of New York in this straggling manner about the 
middle of May. Their migratory flight is perfomed in short undulating 
lines, resembling small segments of very large circles. It may be explained 
in this manner. Supposing the bird poised in the air and intent on moving 
forwards, it propels itself by a strenuous flap of the wings, which carries it 
forward in a curve, along which it ascends until it attains the level of its 
original point of departure, when it flaps its wings again, and performs 
another curve. In this form of flight they pursue their long journey, during 
which they keep up a continual low chattering, as if they were discussing 
some important question. When they reach Pennsylvania, they commence 
the avocations which I have already described, and are seen following the 
plough, while their kindred that have been left in Louisiana are probably by 
this time feeding their young, as the difference of climate between these 
latitudes leaves the northern states a month later in their seasons than the 
southern. 
In the Northern States these birds construct their nests in a much more 
perfect, and therefore more natural manner. A pine tree, whenever it occurs 
in a convenient place, is selected by preference, its dense foliage and hori- 
zontal branches being well adapted for nidification. There the Grakle forms 
a nest, which from the ground might easily be mistaken for that of our 
Robin, the Tardus migratorius, were it less bulky. But it is much larger, 
and instead of being placed by itself, is associated with others, often to the 
number of a dozen or more, on the horizontal arms of the pine, forming tier 
above tier, from the lowest to the highest branches. The centre of the nest 
is what I would call saddled on the bough, the materials being laid so that 
the nest is thinner in its middle part and thicker at the two opposite sides, 
so as to have a firm hold. It is about six inches in diameter outside, and 
four inches within, the depth being the same, and is composed of grass, 
slender roots and mud, lined with hair and finer grasses. I had a white 
pine-tree in one of my fields on Mill Grove Farm, on which many of these 
birds bred every spring, when some mischievous lads frequently amused 
themselves with beating down the nests with long fishing-rods, to my great 
