98 THE SECOND BOOK OF BIRDS 
throwing themselves over on their backs, and 
holding up their claws ready to fight. 
In spite of this naughty fun, the young 
blackbird was really fond of them. The larks 
slept on the ground, and at night, when the little 
fellows settled down on the floor, the red-wing 
would often leave his perch and cuddle down by 
them. This must have been for company only, 
for it was his way to sleep on a perch. 
The Cow-BLAckBIRD, or CowBIRD, is another 
one of this branch of the Blackbird Family who 
is found all over the United States. He 1s shin- 
ing blue-black all over, except his head, which is 
brown. His mate is entirely brown. He is not 
quite so large as a red-wing, and he too is a 
walker. 
This bird is called cowbird because he is fond 
of flying about the cows, — not to trouble them, 
but to eat the insects that torment them, — which 
is very pleasant for the cows, I am sure. 
There is one queer way that cowbirds have, 
which no one is able to explain. The cowbird 
mother does not build a nest for her little 
family. Yet she wants them well cared for. So 
she goes slyly about and lays her eggs in other 
birds’ nests. She generally chooses the nest of 
a smaller bird, though she often uses one belong- 
ing to a wood thrush. 
