AKelaius nhoeniceus . 
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Concord, Mass. Eat blossoms of wild rice. 
18S5. The Red-wings began on the. wild rice along the river up- 
Aug.7, wards of two weeks ago when it was still in blossom eating 
the staminate flowers as I satisfied myself by actual obser- 
vation. They are now fast stripping the stalks of the grain 
which is green and milky and not nearly fully grown. The in- 
troduction of this plant into Concord River by some of the 
young sportsmen (Derby, Prescott & others) ten or twelve years 
ago had been a great boon to the Blackbirds and to the farmers 
as well by diverting the birds from the cultivated ct'ops 
which they do not now molest at all at this season. 
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