FAM. XIV. BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



145 



in size. This bird, like the cuckoo of Europe, builds no nest of 

 its own, but deposits its eggs one at a time, in the nests of other, 

 generally smaller, 

 species. Many of 

 these hatch and 

 rear the young cow- 

 birds ; though some 

 abandon the nests 

 into which the eggs 

 are placed, others 

 throw out the eggs, i « 



and still others build ^"""^''^ 



new nests over the one containing the parasite's egg. (Cow 

 Blackbird.) 



Length, 7| ; wing, 4} (3\-4J) ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 1 ; culmen, |. Whole 

 United States and southern Canada ; breeding throughout, and wintering 

 in the Gulf States and Mexico. The Dwarf Cowbird (495". 37. a. ohsciinis) 

 of Texas to Lower California is very similar, though smaller. Wing of 

 female, 3\ ; tail, 2\. The Red-eyed Cowbird (496. Callothrus rolnistus), 

 found in southern Texas to Central America, i.s larger. The male is black 

 with much bronzy luster, and the female brownish-gray, somewhat glossy 

 on the back. Length, 9 ; wing, 4^ (4-4|) ; tansus, 3|-3| ; culmen, |. 



3. Yellow-headed Blackbird (497. Xanthocephalus .vanthoce- 

 phahis). — A western, ground-living, orange-yellow-headed 



blackbird, with a 



blotch of white near 



the bend of the wing. 



The breast and neck 



are also yellow, but 



the lores and chin are 



black. The female is 



a grayish-brown bird, 



with most of the head 



and breast a dirty 



Yellow-headed Blackbird yellow or yellowish 



white. These birds gather together in companies and associate 



with cowbirds, and like them are often found on the ground 



apgar's birds. — 10 



