356 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



grata, Clisiocampa Americana, Colias philodice^ 

 and many of the Noctuidce, Tortricidce, and Tineida 

 in their larval and perfect stages. 



The Cowbird delights to visit ploughed grounds, 

 where in small flocks it will Hean for a loner time, 



ij <_j 



unless disturbed. In pasture-grounds where the 

 cattle are grazing, it is a common visitor, nestling 

 among the cattle and sometimes alighting upon 

 their backs and relieving them of their dipterous 

 tormentors which serve it as food; or else search- 

 ing among their droppings lor the same. At 

 times it is somewhat rasbrial. 



It has no attractions as a singer, and scarcely 

 deserves the name. Its notes are harsh and 

 unmusical. 



The species which seem to be the objects of its 

 special regard in this section, are comprehended 

 within the three families of the Sylvicolid(c\ Virco- 

 nidfc, and Fringillida. We have detected its e^s 



t-> OO 



within the nests of the following species: 

 Geothlypis irichas, Dendrceta (rstiva, Sciurus an- 

 rocapillus, Setophaga ntticilla, Virco olivaceus, V. 

 ndveboracensis, V.gilvus, Spizclla socialis, Melospiza 

 mclodia, and Cyanospiza cyanca. There is usually 

 but one egftr deposited in the nest, although we 



OO O 



have frequently discovered two, and but rarely 

 three. When the egg is laid within' the nest of 

 the Summer Yellow Bird, a remarkable degree of 

 sagacity is manifested when there is lacking ability 

 necessary to its removal. To frustrate the desii/n 



o 



of its author by preventing its hatching, the birds 



