THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



FEBRUARY, 1836. 



— ■ " 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



L 



Art. I. Observations on the Cotv Bunting of the United States of 

 America. By George Ord, Esq. 



Of all the known birds which are indigenous to North 

 America, perhaps there is not one whose habits are so inter- 

 esting as those of the bird denominated cow bunting, cow 

 bird, cow-pen bird, or cow blackbird (the JFringilla pecoris of 

 Latham) ; and yet there is hardly one whose history has hi- 

 therto been involved in greater obscurity. 



Wilson was the first writer who made public the fact, that 

 this species does not construct a nest for itself; but, like the 

 cuckoo of Europe, deposits its eggs in the nests of other birds, 

 and confides to strangers the care of its offspring. 



A habit so singular as this had early awakened the attention 

 of the author of the American Ornithology, He had supposed 

 that persons residing in the country were conversant with it ; 

 and, by diligent enquiry among them, he was enabled to collect 

 some information which was deemed authentic. But, had 

 our ingenious ornithologist relied more upon his personal 

 observations than upon the testimony of vulgar observers, 

 he would have avoided some errors, which it is the intention 

 of the writer of this article to point out. 



The following propositions have been assumed : — 

 There is never more than one egg of the cow bunting depo- 

 sited in the same nest. 

 The egg invariably hatches before those of the foster-bird. 

 The foster-mother, in seeking food for her first-born, neglects 



her own eggs ; and their embryos, consequently, perish. 

 The birds selected by the cow bunting, as nurses of her pro- 

 geny, are always smaller than herself. 

 Vol. IX. — No. 58. f 



