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Range (Breeds in the lower)

Breeds in the lower Mississippi Valley and east of the Alleghanies from Georgia to Massachusetts; winters in the Southern States. Washington, common T. V. and S. R., Feb. 20; a few winter. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R., Feb. 15 to Nov. 8.

Nest, bulky and compact, of mud and coarse grasses lined with finer grasses, in colonies, generally in coniferous trees about thirty feet up, sometimes in bushes or holes in trees. Eggs, three to six, very variable, generally pale bluish or bluish green, singularly spotted, blotched, or scrawled with cinnamon-brown, umber, or black, but sometimes evenly speckled with brownish, and rarely almost solid cinnamon- or rufous-brown, 1-15 × 82. When winter gives signs of retreating there comes from the south in sable array the tried advance guard of the feathered army which is BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. impatiently awaiting the order to advance. In close rank they come, phalanx after phalanx, to retake the land which winter-once conquering, now defeated-yields to them. The air resounds to marshal music; their harsh voices, united, rise in an inspiring chorus. The campaign over, they settle in colonies on their recently acquired possessions, and these careless rovers become so attached to their homes and families that they are rarely seen far from their vicinity. Sometimes we may see them walking sedately over the lawns near their home, their glossy plumage gleaming in the light, and their yellow eyes giving them a peculiar, unbirdlike expression. But when their young are old enough to care for themselves the old habits return, and, leading their offspring into the world, they teach them the ways of wanderers. Meeting others of their kind, they join forces, and in the fall we find them in hordes ravaging the country. The Grackle's disposition is as gloomy as his plumage is dark. Life with him is a serious affair. He seems to utterly lack the Blue Jay's sense of humor. As a parent he is beyond reproach, and every moment is devoted to the care of his young, but it is all done in a joyless way. Eggs and nestlings form part of his fare, and I can imagine bird-mothers frightening their young into obedience by theatened visits from that ogre, the Grackle. 511a. Q. q. aglæus (Baird). FLORIDA GRACKLE. Ad. s.-Head, neck, throat and upper breast all around metallic violet-purple; back and rump rich bottle green, the feathers with more or less concealed iridescent bars; wings and tail externally metallic purple or bluish black; the wingcoverts generally with iridescent tips; lower breast and belly similar to the back but duller. Ad. 9. - Not distinguishable in color from the 2 of Q. quiscula, but differing in size. W., 5.38; T., 490; B., 1.25.