‘ 270 BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC.

impatiently awaiting the order to advance. In close rank they come, phalanx after phalanx, to retake the land which winter—once conquer- ing, 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. Some- times 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 Graekle’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 joy- less 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. aglsus (Baird). FLORIDA GRACKLE. Ad. 6.——-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 wing— coverts generally with iridescent tips; lower breast and belly similar to the back but duller. Ad. 9 .—Not distinguishable in color from the 9 of Q. quie— cula, but differing in size. W., 5'38; T., 4'90; 3., 1'25.

Kenya—Coast of South Carolina westward through central Georgia to the Mississippi; south through Florida to Key West.

This is a locally abundant bird, and is found in flocks throughout the year. In Florida it sometimes lives in the towns in which live- oaks grow, and it also makes its headquarters in cypress “bays,” but its favorite resort is among the cabbage palmettos, upon the berries

of which it feeds.

5111). Q. q. aneus (Bi/1910.). BRONZED GRACKLE; Cnow BLACK- nmn. Ad. 6 .—Head, neck, throat, and upper breast all around varying" from brilliant metallic purple to bluish green or steel-blue; back metallic seal- bronze, the feathers without iridescent bars ; wings and tail metallic pur— plish or bluish black; lower breast and belly similar to the back but duller. Ad. 9 .—Much duller, the back and belly brownish, sometimes without me— tallic reflections and never with iridescent bars. W., 562; T., 5-04; B., 1'21.

Range—Breeds from Texas to Great Slave Lake, east to the Alleghanies