RED-WINGED STARLING.' 
29 
of these birds in spring without receiving the most striking 
and satisfactory proofs of those facts ; and though, in a matter 
of this kind, it is impossible to ascertain precisely the amount 
of the benefits derived by agriculture from this, and many 
other species of our birds, yet, in the present case, I cannot 
resist the belief, that the services of this species, in spring, are 
far more important and beneficial than the value of all that 
portion of corn which a careful and active farmer permits 
himself to lose by it. 
The great range of country frequented by this bird extends 
from Mexico, on the south, to Labrador. Our late enter- 
prising travellers across the continent to the Pacific Ocean, 
observed it numerous in several of the valleys at a great 
distance up the Missouri. When taken alive, or reared from 
the nest, it soon becomes familiar, sings frequently, bristling 
out its feathers, something in the manner of the Cow Bunting. 
These notes, though not remarkably various, are very peculiar. 
The most common one resembles the syllables conk-quer-ree ; 
others, the shrill sounds produced by filing a saw : some are 
more guttural ; and others remarkably clear. The usual note 
of both male and female is a single chuck . Instances have 
been produced where they have been taught to articulate 
several words distinctly ; and, contrary to what is observed of 
many birds, the male loses little of the brilliancy of his plumage 
by confinement. 
A very remarkable trait of this bird is, the great difference 
of size between the male and female ; the former being nearly 
two inches longer than the latter, and of proportionate 
magnitude. They are known by various names in the different 
states of the Union ; such as the Swamp Blackbird , Marsh 
Blackbird , Red-winged Blackbird , Corn or Maize, Thief, 
Starling , &c. Many of them have been carried from this to 
different parts of Europe ; and Edwards relates, that one of 
them, which had, no doubt, escaped from a cage, was shot in the 
neighbourhood of London ; and, on being opened, its stomach 
was found to be filled with grub-worms, caterpillars, and 
