162 THE COW BLACKBIRD. 



belonging to altogether different families, we note a most 

 remarkable exception, these being wholly polygamous and 

 parasitic. The Cow Blackbird makes its first appearance 

 in Western New York about the end of the first week in 

 April. Some 7.00 or 7.50 long, the male is a glossy greenish- 

 black, with a brown head. The female, somewhat smaller, 

 is plain slaty-brown. In sombre groups of some half- 

 dozen or more — the males being at first the more numerous, 

 but the sexes soon becoming about equally represented — 

 they perch leisurely on the fence, on a solitary tree in the 

 field or in the edge of the woods, often penetrating the 

 thickest forests. The intercourse of the sexes is entirely 

 promiscuous, no male ever showing any continuous attach- 

 ment to any one female. Since the body-guard of insects 

 accompanying the cattle affords the Cow Bird a constant 

 repast, or more especially from the attractiveness of certain 

 intestinal worms passed in the excrements of cattle by means 

 of the aperient effects of green grass in spring and early sum- 

 mer, this species is noted for its preference of the vicinity of 

 these quadrupeds; even lighting on their backs; hence its 

 common name, Cow Blackbird, formerly Cow Bunting. 



Dr. Coues says: "Cow Birds appear to be particularly 

 abundant in the west; more so, perhaps, than they really 

 are, for the numbers that in the East spread equally over 

 large areas are here drawn within small compass, owing to 

 lack of attractions abroad. Every wagon-train passing over 

 the prairies in summer is attended by flocks of the birds; 

 every camp and stock-corral, permanent or temporary, is 

 besieged by the busy birds eager to glean subsistence from 

 the wasted forage. Their familiarity under these circum- 

 stances is surprising. Perpetually wandering about the 

 feet of the draught-animals, or perching upon their backs, 

 they become so accustomed to man's presence that they 



