and refuse straw, they pick the scattered grains that have fallen from the
stores with which the farmer has supplied his stock. They remain about
the farms until the commencement of spring. They are easily caught in
traps, and shew little fear when seized, biting so severely as often to draw
blood, and laying hold with their claws in a very energetic manner.
During the winter of 1821, I caught a number of them, as well as
many other birds, for the purpose of sending them alive to Europe. The
whole of my captives were confined together in a large cage, where they
were well fed and watered, and received all necessary attention. Things
went on favourably for several days, and I with pleasure saw them becoming
daily more gentle. An unexpected change, however, soon took
place, for as the Grakles became reconciled to confinement, they began
to attack the other birds, beating and killing one after another so fast
that I was obliged to remove them from the cage. Even this did not
prevent further breach of the peace, for the strong attacked and killed
the weak of their own race, so that only a few remained in the end. The
Grakles thus mangled, killed and partially devoured several Cardinal
Grosbeaks, Doves, Pigeons, and Blue Jays. I look upon this remarkable
instance of ferocity in the Grakle with the more amazement, as I never
observed it killing any bird when in a state of freedom.
What I have said respecting the Purple Grakle (which by some is improperly
named the Boat-tailed Grakle) refers particularly to the habits
of those in the south, where some of them are found at all seasons. I
shall now speak of those of the Western and Middle States. Most of these
birds leave the south about the middle of February, setting out in small
detached flocks. They reach the State of New York in this straggling
manner about the middle of May. Their migratory flight is performed
in short undulating lines, resembling small segments of very large circles.
I t may be explained in this manner. Supposing the bird poised in the
air and intent on moving forwards, it propels itself by a strenuous flap of
the wings, which carries it forward in a curve, along which it ascends until
it attains the level of its original point of departure, when it flaps its
wings again, and performs another curve. In this form of flight they
pursue their long journey, during which they keep up a continual low
chattering, as if they were discussing some important question. When
they reach Pennsylvania, they commence the avocations which I have already
described, and are seen following the plough, while their kindred
that have been left in Louisiana are probably by this time feeding their
young, as the difference of climate between these latitudes leaves the
northern states a month later in their seasons than the southern.
In the Northern States these birds construct their nests in a much more
perfect, and therefore more natural manner. A pine tree, whenever it
occurs in a convenient place, is selected by preference, its dense foliage
and horizontal branches being well adapted for nidification. There the
Grakle forms a nest, which from the ground might easily be mistaken for
that of our Robin, the Turdus niigratorius, were it less bulky. But it
is much larger, and instead of being placed by itself, is associated with
others, often to the number of a dozen or more, on the horizontal arms of
the pine, forming tier above tier, from the lowest to the highest branches.
The centre of the nest is what I would call saddled on the bough, the
materials being laid so that the nest is thinner in its middle part and
thicker at the two opposite sides, so as to have a firm hold. It is about six
inches in diameter outside, and four inches within, the depth being the
same, and is composed of grass, slender roots and mud, lined with hair
and finer grasses. I had a white pine-tree in one of my fields on Mill
Grove Farm, on which many of these birds bred every spring, when some
mischievous lads frequently amused themselves with beating down the
nests with long fishing-rods, to my great annoyance. Some of the Pennsylvanian
farmers, from a very laudable motive, have given out that
Grakles are fond of pulling up the garlic plant, so injurious to the pastures
of the Middle States; but I am sorry to say this assertion is by no
means correct, and were these good people to look to the Grakles for the
clearing of their fields from that evil, they might wait long enough.
The flesh of the Purple Grakle is little better than that of the Crow,
being dry and ill-flavoured, notwithstanding which it is frequently used,
with the addition of one or two Golden-winged Woodpeckers or Redwings,
to make what is here called pot pie, even amidst a profusion of so many
better things. The eggs, on the contrary, are very delicate, and I am
astonished that those who are so anxious for the destruction of these birds
do not gratify their wishes by eating them while yet in embryo in the egg.
In some parts of Louisiana, the farmers, or, as they are styled, the planters,
steep the seed com for a few hours in a solution of Glauber's salt, to deter
the Grakles and other birds from eating the grains when just planted, as
we term it in America, the word sow being seldom employed there to denote
the act of depositing in the earth even the smallest seed.
The Purple Grakle travels very far north. I have found it everywhere