The Titmouse 



Borrowed thy battle-numbers bold. 

 And I will write our annals new, 

 And thank thee for a better clew, 

 I, who dreamed not when I came here 

 To find the antidote of fear, 

 Now hear thee say in Roman key, 

 Paean! 'Teni, vidi, vici". 



Emerson. 



COWBIRD 



The cowbird takes its name from its habit of walking 

 about among the cattle in the pasture, picking up the 

 small insects which the cattle disturb in their grazing. 

 The bird may often be seen within a foot or two of the 

 nose of a cow or heifer, walking briskly about like a minia- 

 ture hen, intently watching for its insect pray. 



Blanchan. Bird Neighbors.^^ 



The cowbird is an acknowledged villain, and has no 

 standing in'|the bird world. English sparrows, either 

 because they are not aware of the customs of New- Wo rid 

 bird life, or because of a possible and not unUkely affinity, 

 associate with him; but no self-respecting American bird 



will be found in his company The females, 



lacking every moral and maternal instinct, leave their 

 companions only long enough to deposit their eggs in the 

 nests of other and smaller birds. 



Chapman. Handbook of Birds.^^ 



54 



