70 THE WEST VIRGINIA 
106. RUSTY BLACKBIRD. 
Seolecophagus carolinus (Mull.). 
Transient visitant; common. Small flocks were met with 
during the last week in October, frequenting swamp and low 
lands. Stomachs of specimens secured contained elderberries, 
and traces of larve of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. 
LOT. PURPLE GRACKLE. 
Quisealus quiseula (Linn.), 
Summer resident; abundant. This speciesis generally called 
Crow Blackbird. It is condemned by the farming classes who 
give ita very bad reputation. It comesin small flocks in early 
spring, generally frequenting meadows and cultivated fields, 
and destroying large numbers of insects. As spring advances 
and the farmers beginto plow, I have observed dozens of these 
birds following the fresh turned furrows, picking up white 
grubs and earth worms. After the field has been planted with 
corn and the tender blades appear, the Blackbirds visit the 
fields and pluck the young sprouts from their beds, eating the 
grain and scattering the blades promiscuously around. I have 
killed them while thus engaged, and their stomachs contained, 
besides grains of corn, cut worms of various kinds. Stull later 
in the season they feed upon oats and corn in the shock. On 
my arrival in Buckhannon, August 1, 1 was informed that a 
few days previously large numbers of these Blackbirds had 
congregated every evening in a small field in which oats were 
standing in shocks, near the town, affording fine shooting for 
the young sportsmen of the borough. I visited the place 
August 2, but the grain had been gathered. I found a few 
birds feeding upon the ground and exceedingly hard to ap- 
proach. Those that were procured contained oats and clover 
seeds. Notwithstanding the injury done to farm crops by this 
species, it does a vast amount of good by destroying innumer- 
able insects. Stomachs of specimens secured sla oats, 
clover seed, blackberries, and traces of beetles. 
