FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS.
28
underneath, resembling
yellow
a
Vireo
in
color.
From Southern New England southward. 59. RUSTY BLACKBIRD. Scolecophagus linus.
— Length,
Bluish black.
9J inches.
caro-
Female
duller below. Comes in flocks in the spring like the Red-wing, but does not stay. It breeds in high northern latitudes, and winters in the South. slate gray,
60. BIRD.
PURPLE GRACKLE. CROW BLACKQuiscalus
quiscula.
— Length,
Glossy green and purplish black.
Female
12 inches. but
similar,
These are among the first birds to arrive in the spring, coming in large, extremely noisy flocks. Later they divide into smaller flocks, and take possession of some cedar swamp as a breeding-place. They usually build their nests higher than the Redwings in pine or cedar trees, and keep somewhat in company during the breeding season. They also feed in fields and pastures at some distance from the water, These birds are Avhich the Red-wing never leaves. said to rob birds' nests.
duller.
FINCHES AND SPAlIIROV^S, — Fringillidae. /r.
— Strong and Food. — Mostly seeds, Bill.
conical. also
buds and
insects.
These are tree and ground and move mostly by hopping.
birds,
—
61. PINE GROSBEAK. Pinicola enudeator. Length, 9 inches. Slaty gray with a shade of crimson Female and young a similar gray with a dull all over. yellowish shade. This birds breeds far to the northward, and comes south in winter, feeding on the berries It of the mountain ash and the cedar. tree bird, rarely seen on the ground.
is
a dull, quiet
