104 SINGING BIRDS. 



COWBIRD. 

 COW BLACKBIRD. 

 MOLOTHRUS ATER. 



Char. Male; head and neck dull brown; other parts glossy black. 

 Female and young •. brownish gray, paler below, with dark streaks. 

 Length 7 to 8 inches. 



Nest. Does not build any, but lays its eggs in nests of other species, 

 usually of smaller birds, such as the Yellow Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, 

 or one of the Vireos. 



Eggs. ? (number unknown, probably 4) ; dull white, sometimes with 



green or buff tint, irregularly marked with various shades of brown ; 

 o 85 X 0.65. 



The Cow-pen Bird, perpetually gregarious and flitting, is 

 observed to enter the Middle and Northern States in the latter 

 end of March or the beginning of April. They make their mi- 

 gration now chiefly under cover of the night, or early dawn ; 

 and as the season becomes milder they pass on to Canada, and 

 perhaps follow the Warblers and other small birds into the 

 farthest regions of the north, for they are seen no more after 

 the middle of June until the return of autumn, when, with the 

 colds of October, they again reappear in numerous and aug- 

 mented flocks, usually associated with their kindred Red-wings, 

 to whom they bear a sensible likeness, as well as a similarity in 

 notes and manners. They pass the winter in the warmer parts 

 of America as well as in the Southern States, where I have 

 observed them in the ploughed fields, gleaning along with the 

 Red-wings and the common Blackbirds. They are also very 

 familiar around the cattle, picking up insects which they 

 happen to disturb, or that exist in their ordure. When on the 

 ground, they scratch up the soil and appear very intent after 

 their food. Sometimes even, infringing on the rights of the 

 Plover, individuals, in the winter, frequent the margins of 

 ponds in quest of aquatic insects and small shell-fish ; and they 

 may be seen industriously occupied in turning over the leaves 

 of the water-plants to which they adhere. They also frequent 



