SOME NOTES ON NEBRASKA BIRDS. 125 



Tlie Cowbird is peculiarly distinct from all other species of the 

 feathered tribe as represented in our state. Unlike other birds that 

 seem to enjoy nest-building and caring for their young, this species is 

 a genuine parasite, building no nest itself, " but inflicting its eggs 

 usually on smaller birds, leaving to them the labor and care of rear- 

 ing its young. It appears to be entirely devoid of conjugal affection, 

 and practices polyandra, the small flocks in which it is found during 

 the season of reproduction generally containing several more males 

 than females" (Bendire). Of cour.se the bird is harmful if we judge 

 it from this particular feature of its life-history, but if we take into 

 account its food-habits it is beneficial. 



Living, as it does, about cattle, and including in its bill of fare a 

 large number of various insects like flies, ticks, lice, grasshoppers, 

 caterpillars, beetles, etc., this habit partly ofl'sets the bad traits above 

 referred to. 



Bendire lists ninety different species and subspecies of birds in the 

 nests of which the eggs of this bird have been taken. To this large 

 list Mr. I. S. Trostler adds the three following, viz.: Tiie Chestnut- 

 sided Warbler {Dendroica pennsylvanica), Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii)^ 

 and the Grasshopper Sparrow {Ammodramus savannarum passerinus). 



497. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (Bonap.). — Yellow- 



headed Blackbird. 



Omaha, Lincoln, West Point, Holt county, breeds (L. Bruner); "Very 

 abundant in Nebraska, where it breeds " (Aujjhey); ".Summer resident, com- 

 mon; migratory, abundant" (Taylor); "Temperate western North America" 

 (Goss); Omaha— breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common— breeds (G. A. Coleman); 

 Cherry county— breeds (J. M. Bates); O'Neill, Holt county (D. H. Talbot); 

 Gage county (F. A. Colby); "abundant migrant and common summer resi- 

 dent, abundant breeder in Cherry county " (L S. Trostler). 



498. Agelaius phcEniceus {Linn.). — Red-winged Blackbird. 



Entire state — breeds (L. Bruner); "Common along water-courses in Ne- 

 braska" (Aughey); "Summer resident, common'' (Taylor); " Temperate North 

 America in general'- (Goss); Beatrice, Be Witt — breeding (A. S. Pearse); 

 Omaha — breeds (L. Skow); Peru, common — breeds (G. A. Coleman); Cherry 

 and Holt counties — breeds, occasionally remains throughout winter about cat- 

 tle yards (J. M. Bates); several Nebraska localities (D. H. Talbot); Gage 

 county — breeds (F. A. Colby); "an abundant migrant and summer resident, 

 arrives March 15 to April 1 — breeds Alay 15 to July 4, departs Sept. 25 to Oct. 

 16" (L S. Trostler); Lincoln, March 12, Oct. 10 (D. A. Haggard). 



In the Red-winged Blackbird we have a friend that we little dream 

 of when we see the large flocks gathering about our corn-fields during 



