Title: Bulletin - Biological Survey
Identifier: bulletinbiologic27311unit (find matches)
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: United States. Bureau of Biological Survey
Subjects: Zoology, Economic
Publisher: Washington : Govt. print. off.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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BLACKBIKDS. 17 spring, at a time when it is of the highest importance. Recent investigations have shown that the greatest number of weevils are destroyed by them at the season when the cotton stalks are being- raked and the ground first broken. Brewer blackbird.—The nesting home of these blackbirds is chiefly north of Texas, but in winter vast flocks spread over the State, remaining from October to April. At that season these shiny black fellows, conspicuous by reason of their white eyes, may often be seen walking about the streets of the towns or folloAving the plowman as he turns the furrows. About 15 per cent of the birds examined had eaten boll weevils, the average number of weevils destroyed being nearly 2 to a bird. Most of these individuals were taken in late Feb-
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Fig. 6.—Crow blackbird or bronzed grackle. ruary and March, after the spring plowing had been nearly com- j)leted. It is probable that observations made earlier in the winter would show a much larger percentage of weevils destroyed. Bronzed grackle.—Bronzed grackles or crow blackbirds breed locally in Texas, and great numbers of them pass through the State in spring and fall. They appear in large flocks in February and March, and join the other blackbirds in the fields which are being plowed or cultivated. Of the 34 specimens collected in March, 5 had each eaten a boll weevil. Great-tailed grackle; " jackdaw."—These large blackbirds are abundant in southern Texas, wintering near the coast and moving northward in summer to about the latitude of Austin. Like other

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