CINCINNATI ZOO GUIDE 
not stand in high favor with gardeners, who think it robs them 
of their fruit. 
The Yellow-Headed Blackbird (.Xanthocephalus icteroceph- 
alus). This bird is found in southern North America. Its head, 
neck, throat and breast are yellow, but the rest of its plumage 
is black. Its habits are terrestrial. It is often seen in company 
with the cowbird, running about with the cattle. 
The Purple Grackle (Quiscalus). This is nothing more or less 
than a common blackbird, with which every school child in this 
country is familiar. 
The Cow-Bird ( Molothrus ater). This is a wicked little bird. It 
seems to have no conception of the principles of right, justice 
and morality. It lays in the nests of other birds, and its offspring 
being larger, obtain the greater amount of food and its foster 
companions soon smother or starve. 
The Orchard Oriole ( Icterus spurius). This bird is an insect 
eater, but also has a fancy for vegetation. It wages efficient war 
upon plant lice, beetles, rose slugs and cabbage worms. 
The Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) is a veritable fiend for 
cherries. 
The American Robin (.Planesticus migratorius) . Most people, 
if at all observant, are familiar with this bird, whose cheery, 
hearty song is so frequently heard. 
The Chewink or Ground Robin (. Pipilo erythropthalmus ). 
Has a clear, ringing song, the peculiarity of which gives it the 
nickname “Towhee.” Its nest is large and always concealed by 
underbrush. It is called ground robin because it builds its nest 
on the ground. 
The Magpie ( Pica hudsonia). One of the most amusing birds 
in captivity is the magpie, who is always gay and rollicking in 
his good humor — which resembles in its effervescence that of 
the plantation darkey. He is a “natural born thief” and robs 
other birds’ nests with impunity. He keeps in well-wooded 
districts, and out of the way of hawks, which are his deadly 
enemy. His plumage is white and black. 
