200 
OMNIVOROUS BIRDS. 
banks of the Ohio, near Kentucky river, during a snow 
storm. They arrive in the vicinity of Hudson’s Bay 
about the beginning of June, and feed much in the man- 
ner of the Common Crow-Blackbird on insects, which 
they find on or near the ground. Dr. Richardson, saw 
them in the winter as far as the latitude of 53°. They 
sing in the pairing season, but become nearly silent 
while rearing their young ; though when their brood re- 
lease them from care they again resume their Jay, and 
may occasionally be heard until the approach of winter. 
Their song is quite as agreeable and musical as that of 
the Starling, and greatly surpasses that of any of the 
other species. I have heard them singing until the mid- 
dle of October. 
They are said to build in trees, at no great distance 
from the ground, making a nest similar to the other 
species, and lay 5 eggs, rather dusky, and spotted with 
black. The young and old, now assembling in large 
troops, retire from the northern regions in September. 
From the beginning of October to the middle of Novem- 
ber, they are seen in flocks through the Eastern States. 
During their stay in this vicinity, they assemble towards 
night to roost in or round the reed marshes of Fresh Pond, 
near Cambridge. Sometimes they select the willows by 
the water for their lodging, in preference to the reeds, 
which they give up to their companions the Crow-Black- 
birds. Early in October they feed chiefly on grasshoppers 
and berries, and at a later period pay a transient visit to 
the corn-fields. They pass the winter in the Southern 
States, and like their darker relatives, make familiar visits 
to the barn-yard and corn-cribs. Wilson, remarks, that 
they are easily domesticated, and in a few days become 
quite familiar, being reconciled to any quarters while 
supplied with plenty of food. 
