cow BUNTING. 75 



our climate, they were induced to secure suitable places for their pro- 

 geny ; and that in the regions where they more generally pass the sum- 

 mer, they might perhaps build nests for themselves, and rear their own 

 young, like every other species around them. On the other hand, when 

 I consider that many of them tarry here so late as the middle of June, 

 dropping their eggs, from time to time, into every convenient receptacle ; 

 that in the states of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and 

 Pennsylvania, they uniformly retain the same habits ; and, in short, 

 that in all these places I have never yet seen or heard of their nest ; — 

 reasoning from these facts, I think I may safely conclude, that they 

 never build one ; and that in those remote northern regions their man- 

 ners are the same as we find them here. 



What reason Nature may have for this extraordinary deviation from 

 her general practice, is, I confess, altogether beyond my comprehension. 

 There is nothing singular to be observed in the anatomical structure of 

 the bird that would seem to prevent or render it incapable of incubation. 

 The extreme heat of our climate is probably one reason why in the 

 months of July and August they are rarely to be seen here. Yet we 

 have many other migratory birds that regularly pass through Pennsyl- 

 vania to the north, leaving a few residents behind them ; who, without 

 exception, build their own nests and rear their own young. This part 

 of the country also abounds with suitable food, such as they usually 

 subsist on. Many conjectures indeed might be formed as to the proba- 

 ble cause ; but all of them, that have occurred to me, are unsatisfactory 

 and inconsistent. Future, and more numerous observations, made with 

 care, particularly in those countries where they most usually pass the 

 summer, may throw more light on this matter ; till then we can only 

 rest satisfied with the reality of the fact. 



This species winters regularly in the lower parts of North and South 

 Carolina, and Georgia ; I have also met with them near Williamsburg, 

 and in several other pai'ts of Virginia. In January, 1809, I observed 

 strings of them for sale in the market of Charleston, South Carolina. 

 They often frequent corn and rice-fields in company with their cousins, 

 as Mr. Bartram calls them, the Red-winged Blackbirds ; but are more 

 commonly found accompanying the cattle, feeding on the seeds, worms, 

 &c., which they pick up amongst the fodder and from the excrements 

 of the cattle, which they scratch up for this purpose. Hence they have 

 pretty generally obtained the name of Cowpen-hirds, Cotv-birds, or Cow 

 Blackbirds. By the naturalists of Europe they have hitherto been 

 classed with the Finches ; though improperly, as they have no family 

 resemblance to that tribe sufficient to justify that arrangement. If we 

 are to be directed by the conformation of their bill, nostrils, tongue, and 

 claws, we cannot hesitate a moment in classing them with the Red- 

 winged Blackbirds, Oriolus Phoeniceus ; not, however, as Orioles, but as 



