42 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



pure; the black is brownish, and less of it, and 

 the ash color on the breast is brownish. 



LOCATION. Found from Massachusetts, (where 

 a few may breed,) north ward. Migrates south in 

 winter. 



COWPEN FINCH, OR COWBIRD.* 



This bird, in its habits, differs from all the 

 birds which are known to naturalists on the con- 

 tinent of America ; and it is rather a remarkable 

 coincidence that there is one, on the continent of 

 Europe, which has the same habits, and only one. 

 The Cowpen Finch, or Cowbird of America and 

 the common Cuckoo of Europe, build no nests of 

 their own, but lay their eggs in the nests of other 

 birds, and adopt other birds as foster parents for 

 their young. There are several birds' nests which 

 are appropriated by the Cowbird as receptacles 

 for its young, the owners of which are generally 

 smaller birds than the Cowbird, the egg of which 

 (there is only one deposited in a nest) is hatched 

 two or three days sooner; the young Cowbird 

 then manages to exclude all the eggs of the legit- 

 imate owner, and takes sole possession of the 



* It is so named from its habit of following the cows in pastures. 



