ion 

 MOLOTHRUS PECOEIS. 



Whon nutnmn has fiiirly begun and llie ripenin.ii- leaves of the ivy an<l woodbine are 

 dyed with brilliant hues, when the sultry heat of September has given place to the cool, 

 clear weather of October, then the tinch-tinch-tinch of the migrating Bobolinks may be 

 hoard coming through the still night air, for this species, like many other of the smaller 

 l)irds, move almost wholly during the hours of darkness. At first they assemble in large 

 flocks on the salt marshes near the coast, finding slvelter in the coarse grass which borders 

 all the creeks, but with the first frosts they are off to the southward. Wlien once started 

 they usually move continuously, so that in a few days not one is to be found where there 

 were thousands before. 



After the wheat is harvested in Pennsylvania a thick crop of a somewhat peculiar 

 species of grass springs up and in autumn bears a large quantity of seeds. These immense 

 fields are the resort of the Reed Birds when they have left New England, and I found them 

 very abundant there during the latter portion of October. They grow so exceedingly fat 

 from having such great quantities of food, which is easily obtained, that they fly witli dif- 

 ficulty. Indeed ou one or two occasions I caught specimens in my hands as they were un- 

 able to rise from the tall grass. At first I supposed they were wounded as they appeared 

 so helpless, but a careful inspection made it very evident that their great corpulency alone 

 was the cause of the trouble; in fact upon giving them their liberty they managed to get off 

 flying very slowly. Thus a great change comes over our little friends when they put on 

 their plain autumnal dress. From energetic, lively birds whose whole time is apparently 

 given to singing or attending to the wants of their mates and offspring, they become epi- 

 cures, never uttering a note nor caring for anything but a hearty meal. 



GENUS II. MOLOTHRUS. THE rAKASITRAL IILACKUHIDS. 



(iKX. Cn. Bi/l, rather thick and conical, not mvch shorter than the hcail. Upper mandible, a little curved. Winys, 

 much lnn//cr than the tail which is considerably rounded, but the feathers are not acuminate. Sternum, stout, equal in breadth 

 to one half the lencjth of the eoraeoids. Size, tnedium. Slomaeh, musi-ular. 



Memhei-softhe present genus also resemble those of tlie preceding Family in having a very muscular stomach and thick 

 hill, but are unlike any allied species in being parasitical in breeding habits, never building a nest of their own. They are 

 also polygamous. The females are smaller than the males and duller in ccdor at all seasons. 



MOLOTHRUS PECORIS. 

 Cow Blackbird. 



Molothrus pecoris, Sw., F. Bor. Am., II, 1831, 277. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. Tongue, rather fleshy, provided with a short tuft of terminal, hair-like fibers. 

 Sternum, as given above. 



Color. Adult male. Head, neck, and anterior breast, choeolate-l)rown. Remainder of body, black throughout, with 

 greenish reflections on all portioiLs, excepting near the neck above, where they are violet. Tips of wings, brownish. Bill 

 and feet, lilack. 



Adult female. Uniform, duIl,slaty-brown throughout, liglitest on the throat and Jarkest on the wings and tail. The 

 ocnters of the foathers of the back, breast, sides, and flanks, streaked with dusky. Bill, brown, lighter at base (.f lowerman- 

 dible. Feet, dark-brown. 



Yovni/ male. lias the chocolate markings much darker. The remainder of feathers are somewhat greener, and they 

 arc naridwly margined with reddish especially below. 



