334 
PURPLE GRAKLE. 
of mud, mixed with long stalks and roots of a knotty kind of 
grass, and lined with fine bent and horse hair. The eggs are 
five, of a bluish olive colour, marked with large spots and 
straggling streaks of black and dark brown, also with others 
of a fainter tinge. They rarely produce more than one brood 
in a season.* 
The trees where these birds build are often at no great 
distance from the farm-house, and overlook the plantations. 
From thence they issue, in all directions, and with as much 
confidence, to make their daily depredations among the 
surrounding fields, as if the whole were intended for their use 
alone. Their chief attention, however, is directed to the 
Indian corn in all its progressive stages. As soon as the 
infant blade of this grain begins to make its appearance above 
ground, the Grakles hail the welcome signal with screams of 
peculiar satisfaction, and, without waiting for a formal invita- 
tion from the proprietor, descend on the fields, and begin to 
* Audubon’s account of their manner of building is at considerable variance 
with that given above by our author. “ The lofty dead trees left standing 
in our newly cultivated fields, have many holes and cavities, some of which 
have been bored by Woodpeckers, and others caused by insects or decay. 
These are visited and examined in succession, until, a choice being made, and a 
few dry weeds and feathers collected, the female deposits her eggs, which are 
from four to six in number, blotched and streaked with brown and black.” 
Such is the manner of building in Louisiana ; but, in the northern states, their 
nests are differently constructed, and, as mentioned by our author, it is a singular 
circumstance that a comparatively short distance should so vary this formation. 
“ In the northern states, their nests are constructed in a more perfect manner. 
A pine tree, whenever it occurs in a convenient place, is selected by preference. 
There the Grakle forms a nest, which, from the ground, might easily be mis- 
taken for that of our Robin, were it less bulky. But it is much larger, and 
is associated with others, often to the number of a dozen or more, on the 
horizontal branches of the pine, forming tier above tier, from the lowest to the 
highest branches. It is composed of grass, slender roots and mud, lined with 
hair and finer grasses.” Mr Audubon has also once or twice observed them 
build in the fissures of rocks. “ The flesh is little better than that of a Crow, 
being dry and ill-flavoured ; notwithstanding it is often used, with the addition 
of one or two Golden- winged Woodpeckers, or Redwings, to make what is 
called pot-pie. The eggs, on the contrary, are very delicate.” — Ed. 
