The Great and Common Crow-Blackbirds,:'are both alike distinguished
by the: very remarkable boat-like form of the tail, but the
great difference of size, appearance of the females, length of the tail,
prominence .of the qsseous carina, and brilliancy of colouring, most
obviously prove-them to be altogether specifically' distinct.
The Great: Crow-Blackbird, inhabits the southern part of the
Union, where i t ; is called Jackdaw; Georgia and Florida appear
to be its favourite residence. The disposition of this; species is
extremely social, and «»they frequently mingle with the Common
Crow-Blackbird; vast.. flocks are seen among the sea islands - aifid
neighbouring marshes on the main land, where they feed at\>ldw
water, on the oyster beds and sand .flats.
The chuck, of our species is shriller than that of the Common
Crow-Blackbird, and it has other notes which resemble the noise
made by a watchman’s rattle; their song is only heard, in the
spring, and though the concert they, make is somewhat melancholy,
it is.-not altogether disagreeable.1 : Their, nests are built in company,
on reeds and bushes, in the neighbourhood yof marshes and ponds.:
they lay- about five_eggs, which are- whitish, spotted-with tdark-
brown, as represented in the plate.
Mr. Ord mentions in his paper, that the first Specimens he saw of
this bird, were obtained on the 22d of January at Ossabaw Island,
when but a few males were seen scattered over the cotton plantations.
Advancing towards the.south, they became more numerous; and-in
the early part of February, the males, unaccompanied by females,
were common near the mouth of the river St. Juan, in Florida., A
few days after,, the females appeared, and associated by »themselves
on . the .borders*.of: fresh water ..ponds; they were very gentle, .and
allowed • themselveanto? he. approached within a few. .feet;..without
becoming alarmed. Flocks composed of both sexes were seen about
the middle .of March.
About the latter end of November, they leave even the warm
region of Florida, To. seek winter quarters farther south, probably
in the West Indies. Previous to their departure, they assemble in
very large flocks^ and detachments are* seen every morning moving
southward, flying at a great height. The'males appear to migrate
later than the fepaales, as not more than erne female (easily distinguishable
even in the*. h^h.er, regions,tof ijthe air by its much smaller
size) is observed for, .a hundred males, in' |he‘ last fleets.
The Great Crow-Blackbird, is ‘ a)so;Very numerous in the West
Indies, Mexico, and Louisiana; butuj,does,.not frequent the northern,
or qyem thet middle states, 1U^' the Common Ci’ow-Blackbird. Our
opinion that the Corvm m^wumis of authqrs is the male of this
spe,cies, and,their Qorivus Zctnoe the female,,Is?.,corroborated by the
male and female Great Crow-Blackbird being, seen in separate flocks»
VOL. i.—l