and these of the most noxious kind—the grubs and caterpillars
that are the greatest enemies to vegetation. In
August it collects O in small bands, which as the. season
advances join company and move southward. In winter the
associated flocks may be numbered, says Audubon, by
millions, and chiefly frequent marshy grounds whereon they
feed. Wilson compared the noise of their wings as they rose
to thunder. In the air they wheel about, and appear at
times like a black cloud driven by the wind and varying in
shape every moment. Presently they will alight in some
detached grove, and at once begin a grand vocal performance
which, the same observer says, can be heard more than two
miles off. Towards evening they settle with much noise in
compact bodies on the reeds and rushes close above the
water, and, when disturbed, repeat their aerial evolutions ; but,
finally pitching on the spot first chosen, remain there for the
night.* Early in March these large assemblies break up.
A part separate in pairs and remain among the southern
swamps, but the greater number in small flocks, the males
leading the way, return northward, and seek their breeding-
haunts, which are on the borders of streams or marshy spots.
The nest is usually placed in a low bush, among thick reeds
or even on the ground, but occasionally a loftier site is chosen.
Its outer framework is usually of rushes and flags, within
which are arranged sedge and grass. The eggs vary much,
and are of a greenish-white or pale pinkish-brown, blotched
and lined with dark liver-brown—some of the markings, which
often form a cap or zone, being sharply defined, while others
are surrounded by a penumbra—besides a few blotches of light
ash-colour. They measure from 1'15‘ to ‘92 by from *76 to
•65 in. In New England these birds rear but one brood in
the season, but further to the southward they are said to have
three or more.
Some of the habits of this species will thus be seen
greatly to resemble those of our Starling, but the two birds
* Dr. Coues states that the sexes of the western form (Agelceus tricolor)
keep apart in their winter-flocks. Whether this is also the case with the eastern
bird does not appear.
belong to wholly different families, which have little structural
affinity, and the Editor cannot but regret that the Author
having included the present member of the purely American
family Ictevidce in this work its position must still be
retained here. It has been most properly refused admission
to the European list by all foreign ornithologists.*
The male, killed in Norfolk, had the bill black : the irides
dark brown : the head, neck, scapulars and back, black; the
feathers below the neck edged with reddish-brown ; the lesser
wing-coverts red, the middle orange-yellow, the greater black,
edged with brownish-buff; wings and tail black; the lower
part of the body black : legs, toes and claws, black.
The specimen killed at Shepherd s Bush, being older, had
lost all the buff margins of the feathers of the back, scapulars
and greater wing-coverts; the whole plumage, except the
red and yellow patch on the wing, being of an uniform glossy
black.
The length of the male is about nine inches; the wing
from the carpal joint nearly five inches.
The female is much smaller, dark brown above, the feathers
edged with light brown ; a light stripe along the middle of
the head; the lesser wing-coverts tinged with red; wings
and tail blackish-brown, the feathers margined with brownish-
red; a yellowish band over the eye; beneath dull white
streaked with dark brown, except on the throat, which
together with the lores and sides of the neck, is tinged with
carmine. The young resemble the female, but have no red
tinge, and the throat is pale yellowish-brown.
* Three examples of Sturnella ludoviciana, the “ Meadow-Lark” of North
America, which belongs also to the Icterida!, are said to have been observed m
England-one seen by Capt. Jary in Norfolk in October, 1854; a second shot at
Thrandestonin Suffolk in March, 1860, and now in Mr. H. T. Erere’s possession-
both recorded by Mr. Sclater (Ibis, 1861, p. 177) ; and a third killed near
Cheltenham many years ago, as mentioned by Mr. Harting (Handbook, p. 118) on
Mr. J. W. Lloyd’s authority.