68 Observations on the Cow Bunting 



goldfinch may be found in other places than the Botanic 

 Garden of Cambridge, answering to Wilson's description of 

 it; namely, " covered on the outside with pieces of lichen ." 



On the 14th of June, of the present year, I discovered a 

 nest of the indigo bird, containing four eggs ; two of these 

 were those of the cow bunting, and the others belonged to the 

 owner of the nest. The ground colour of the cow bunting's 

 eggs being different, that is, one being darker than the other, 

 it appeared probable that they had been dropped by different 

 individuals. The eggs of the indigo bird were of a dull 

 uniform white. The nest was situated on the border of my 

 woods, on a hickory shrub, about 2 ft. from the ground ; and 

 firmly secured at the divergence of the branches. 



Early in the morning of the 21st of June, I found one of 

 the cow buntings hatched, and the other just emerging from 

 its shell. The next morning one of the young indigo birds 

 appeared ; but the second egg^ having been punctured by 

 some insect, was addle. This addle egg had been the first 

 laid ; as it is not probable the parent would have adhered to 

 her nest, had the eggs of the cow bunting been dropped be- 

 fore any of her own. The simultaneous hatching of the eggs 

 of the cow bird proves that they had been deposited by dif- 

 ferent individuals. 



By the 23d, the two cow buntings had increased so greatly 

 in bulk, that I became apprehensive they would soon smother 

 the diminutive indigo bird, which did not appear to be much 

 more than one fourth of their size. I could perceive, however, 

 that it received a full share of parental attention, its crop ex- 

 hibiting an ample supply of food. It was frequently in an 

 uneasy position, and seemed to respire with difficulty. At 

 every movement of the buntings, the little creature would get 

 to the bottom of the nest, and had to struggle hard to relieve 

 itself from their oppressive weight. The following day it was 

 no longer to be seen : it had, probably, perished in the night, 

 and had been removed to a distance by its mother, as I 

 sought for it in vain below and about the nest. 



Neither gallinaceous birds nor domestic pigeons remove 

 their dead young ; but small birds invariably do : their habits 

 of cleanliness are remarkable. It is well known that the 

 young of the latter are in the practice of muting immediately 

 on being fed ; and that the excrement, which is enclosed in a 

 pellicle, is forthwith carried away by the parent. As there is 

 something anomalous in the excrementitious matter of the 

 young cow bird, I shall advert to it by and by. 



On the 25th, the two cow buntings were in good plight ; 

 and their pin-feathers were rapidly advancing. Their appetite 



