70 Observations on the Cow Bunting 



been retarded until 9 o'clock, when I observed that two of 

 the indigo birds, and the cow bird, were hatched. As the 

 shell of the latter, and that of one of the former, were yet in 

 the nest, it was an evidence that the young had just come 

 forth. In the course of the morning the last egg was hatched. 



Here, then, is a proof that the cow bird's egg was deposited 

 after two eggs had been laid by the indigo bird, which com- 

 menced sitting immediately on laying her third egg. As it is 

 admitted that the cow bunting never drops her egg in the 

 nest of a bird that has commenced incubation, we must infer, , 

 from the simultaneous hatching of the eggs, that their period 

 of incubation is precisely the same, namely, twelve days. 



On the 24-th, all the nestlings appeared to be well ; but the 

 size of the cow bird was nearly double of thatr of the indigo 

 birds. When passerine birds are newly hatched, they do not 

 place themselves in a regular order in the nest ; they frequently 

 lie across one another ; but when their eyes are unclosed, they 

 arrange themselves side by side, so that they may conveniently 

 be fed by the parent, and discharge their faeces. The cow 

 bird, in this instance, appeared by no means disposed to ac- 

 commodate his nest-mates ; for he was continually stretching 

 himself over them, and interfering with their convenience. 

 The indigo birds exhibited signs of uneasiness, and appeared, 

 occasionally, to breathe with difficulty. 



On the 28th, the cow bunting had grown so large, that he 

 could extend himself quite across the nest, which appeared 

 completely filled. I took notice that the three indigo birds 

 occupied one side of the nest, as if sensible of their consan- 

 guinity, and as if aware that the fosterling was not one of 

 their kindred. The latter afforded strong evidence that he 

 had not been slighted by his nurses : the sides of the nest, 

 besmeared with his excrements, attested to his voracity. I 

 before observed that there is something anomalous in the 

 muting of the young cow bunting; for, when it is become 

 pretty well grown, the faeces do not appear to be removed by 

 the foster-parents, but accumulate on the sides of the nest. 

 This day there was an easterly wind, with rain ; and the next 

 morning I found the smallest of the young indigo birds lying 

 upon the ground, beneath the nest, dead. It had, probably, 

 been jostled out of the nest when striving to get food from its 

 parent. In the night of the 29th there was heavy rain ; and, 

 on the 30th, I observed another of the indigo birds lying dead 

 in the nest. This bird had been evidently sick, as its crop 

 showed no signs of food, and as its position was a commodious 

 one. The remaining indigo bird was standing upon the edge 

 of the nest, whence it escaped, in my presence, into the 

 bushes. 



