GREAT CROW BLACKBIRD. 
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length of the tail, prominence of the osseous carina, and brilli- 
ancy of colouring, most obviously prove them to be altogether 
specifically distinct. 
The great crow blackbird inhabits the southern part of the 
Union, where it is called jackdaw ; Georgia and Florida appear 
to be its favourite residence. The disposition of this species 
is extremely social, and they frequently mingle with the com- 
mon crow blackbird ; vast flocks are seen among the sea islands 
and neighbouring marshes on the main land, where they feed 
at low water on the oyster beds and sand flats. 
The chuck of our species is shriller than that of the common 
crow blackbird, and it has other notes which resemble the noise 
made by a watchman’s rattle ; their song is only heard in the 
spring, and though the concert they make is somewhat melan- 
choly, it is not altogether disagreeable. Their nests are built 
in company, on reeds and bushes, in the neighbourhood of 
marshes and ponds ; they lay about five eggs, which are whi- 
tish, spotted with dark brown, as represented in the plate. 
Mr Ord mentions in his paper, that the first specimens he 
saw of this bird, were obtained on the 22d of January at Ossa- 
baw Island, when but a few males were seen scattered over 
the cotton plantations. Advancing towards the south, they 
became more numerous ; and in the early part of February, 
the males, unaccompanied by females, were common near the 
mouth of the river St Juan in Florida. A few days after, the 
females appeared, and associated by themselves on the borders 
of fresh water ponds; they were very gentle, and allowed 
themselves to be approached within a few feet, without beco- 
ming alarmed. Flocks composed of both sexes were seen about 
the middle of March. 
About the latter end of November, they leave even the 
warm region of Florida, to seek winter quarters farther south, 
probably in the West Indies. Previous to their departure, 
they assemble in very large flocks, and detachments are seen 
every morning moving southward, flying at a great height. 
The males appear to migrate later than the females, as not 
