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BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA . 
Tlie Bed-wing-, like the Crow Blackbird, destroys large numbers of 
“ cut-worms.” I have taken from the stomach of a single Swamp Black¬ 
bird as many as twenty-eight “ cut-worms.” In addition to the insects, 
etc., mentioned above, these birds also, during their residence with 
us, feed on earth-worms, grasshoppers, crickets, plant-lice and various 
larvae, so destructive at times in the field and garden. During the sum¬ 
mer season, fruits of the blackberry, raspberry, wild strawberry, and 
wild cherry are eaten to a more or less extent. The young, while under 
parental care, are fed exclusively on an insect diet. 
Dr. Coues, writing of this species, says: “ From its general disper¬ 
sion in low or wet thickets or fields, swamps and marshes, the blackbird 
collects in August and September in immense flocks, thronging the ex¬ 
tensive tracts of wild oats and other aquatic plants in marshes and along 
water-courses, also visiting and doing much damage to grain-fields. 
Thousands are destroyed by boys and pot-hunters, but the hosts scarcely 
diminish, and every known artifice fails to protect the crops from inva¬ 
sion of the dusky hordes. At other seasons the ‘ maize-thief ’ is innocu¬ 
ous, if not positively beneficial, as it destroys its share of insects.”— 
Key, p. 10L In the rice-growing states the Bed-winged Blackbird 
ranks next to the Beed-bird in its ravages on the rice fields. Theo. 
S. Wilkinson, Myrtlegrove plantation , lower coast, Louisiana, writes as 
follows in the annual report (1886), issued by Ornithologist Dr. C. Hart 
Merriam, U. S. Dept, of Agr., Washington, D. C.: “ The rice crop in 
Louisiana, from the time the rice is in the milk till harvest time and 
during harvesting, is much damaged by birds, principally the Bed¬ 
shouldered Blackbird. Shooting is the only remedy thus far resorted to 
which is at all effective, and it is only partially so. I have known rice 
crops to be destroyed to the extent of over 50 per cent., which is a loss 
of say $13 per acre. While this is an extreme case, a damage and ex¬ 
pense of from $5 to $10 per acre is very common. 
“ The average yield per acre is about 30 bushels, worth now (March 12, 
1886) about 80 cents per bushel.” 
Genus XANTHOCEPHALUS Bonaparte. 
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonap.). 
Yellow-headed Blackbird. 
Description. 
Bill conical and about twice as long as high ; wings longer than tail ; first primary- 
longest. 
Male. —General color black, including lores, and some feathers about eyes and 
lower bill ; rest of head, the neck and breast, also few feathers about vent yellow ; 
showy white patch on wing. The female is smaller, and dark brown ; top of head 
brown ; line over eye, throat and breast dull yellow ; no white wing patch. Length, 
male about 10^ ; extent about 16£; bill and legs (dried skin) blackish. 
