A MIDSUMMER EXCURSION 265 



" I don't see what makes them act so," said Rap. '' I 

 thought birds had to buikl nests, or liave a hole or a bit 

 of ground or rock of their own — tliat it was a law." 



" So it is, my boy ; but the Cowbird is one of the 

 exceptions I told you about ; and I am glad to say 

 there are very few." 



The Cowbird 



Lei>gth about seven and a lialf inches. 



Male : very glossy black, excepting the head and neck, which 

 are shiny dark brown like burnt coffee. 



Female : dusky brown, the lower parts lighter than the upper. 



A Citizen of the entire United States. 



A Ground Gleaner and a Weed Warrior, to some extent, but a 

 bad neighbor, a worse parent, a homeless vagabond, and an outlaw 

 in Birdland. 



ON AGAIX 



The road crept down hill, ])assed tlirough a village, 

 and then into tlie woods once more. The children saw 

 a great many bird friends — Swallows, Goldfinches, a 

 beautiful Blue Jay, which Avas new to them, and some 

 Yellow AVarblers. They stopped for half an hour in the 

 wooded lane, Avhere a Chat whistled to them, a Scarlet 

 Tanager flew hastily overhead, and the Doctor showed 

 them a Towhee rambling among the leaves, while a little 

 brownish Ijird kept flitting into the air and back to his 

 perch, calling "pewee — pe-a-r ! " in a sad voice. 



" What's that ? " asked Rap ; " it's a bird I often see 

 near the mill, catching flies on the wing." 



*' It is called the Wood Pewee," said the Doctor ; 

 "when we come back tliis afternoon we will stop, and 

 I will try to find its nest to show you. We must go 

 on now." 



