No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. Ill 



Wood Thrush 2 



Blue-winged Warbler 2 



Louisiana Water-Thrush 1 1 



Yellow-breasted Chat 1 1 



1 



One Cowbird's egg was found in one nest of each of the fol- 

 lowing species, viz., Orchard Oriole, Chipping Sparrow, Cedar 

 Waxwing, White-eyed Vireo, Worm-eating Warbler, Black and 

 White Warbler, Wood Pewee, and Brown Thrasher. 



Other species recorded are Robin (J. C. A. M.), Towhee 

 (J.' C. A. M. and Beers), Bobolink (L. B. W.), Bluebird 

 (A. A. S.). 



Eggs. 1-3, per nest; about the last of May or early in June. 



Dates. Earliest record. May 11, 1904, April 29, 1906, one 

 in Phoebe's nest (A. A. S.). Latest record. Aug. 4, 1882, two 

 in Red-eyed Vireo's nest (L. B. B.). 



There can be little doubt that the Cowbird often injures and 

 sometimes removes one or more of the eggs of the host. Fre- 

 quently the rightful egg has been found (L. B. B.) to be pierced 

 with small holes, and at least twice one lying on the ground out- 

 side the nest. On the average a nest containing an egg of this 

 parasite will be found to contain one less egg of the species own- 

 ing the nest than is normal to that bird. 



Occasionally, as is well known, some of our smaller birds will 

 build a false bottom to the nest covering the intruding egg, and 

 lay their own above it. In a nest of the Yellow Warbler and one 

 of the Chestnut-sided Warbler, each containing four eggs and 

 an egg of the Cowbird buried in the bottom, found by J. C. A. M., 

 it is certain that the Cowbird's egg was the first laid, as in each 

 instance he had visited these nests a week earlier and had found 

 the Cowbird's egg alone in each. 



Although remaining in flocks practically all the year, Cow- 

 birds seem to separate into pairs for a short time in the spring. 

 At this time a single male may often be seen seated in some tree- 

 top, calling, while probably the female is looking for a nest in 

 which to lay. 



Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonaparte). Yellow- 

 headed Blackbird. 

 Accidental. 



