552 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
October all have gone south. They frequent the high lands as well as the low 
during the breeding season, and often nest in trees about dwellings and in vil¬ 
lages. They are more familiar and less gregarious than the Red-winged Black¬ 
bird, and more destructive to corn in the fall, in proportion to their numbers. 
So far as I have observed, most of the corn-pulling in the spring is done by this 
species. It often follows the plow in quest of grubs and cut-worms, and in the 
fall small troops are often seen strolling about village lawns. In “ Birds of the 
Northwest” occurs the following from Thomas T. Gentry, who, in speaking of 
this species, says: “ It is obviously of great service in the destruction of insects. 
But it has one very bad trait, perhaps not generally known. Like the Crow, a 
not distant relative, it is fond of birds’ eggs and tender nestlings, and it destroys 
a great many, particularly Robins.” It is this trait which makes the economic 
position of the Purple Grackle doubtful. 
Food: Of nine specimens examined, six had eaten corn; two, beetles; one, two 
water scorpions fNepidoeJ; one, a small cray-fish; and one, a few seeds. I have 
often seen these birds foUow the plow and pick up and eat grub-worms and cut¬ 
worms. 
Worms, grubs and caterpillars in the spring, and corn in the fall (Wilson). 
Grubs, beetles, caterpillars, moths and grain of various kinds (De Kay). Cater¬ 
pillars, moths, beetles, beech nuts, acorns, and seeds of weeds and various wild 
plants (Samuels), 
Family CORYIDiE: CRotvs, Jays, etc. 
Fig. 120. 
Blue Jay {Cyanocetta cristata). After Bd., Br. and Ridg. 
