cow BUNTING. 81 



incumbent than the other.* This principle would scarcely apply to the 

 eggs of the Blue-bird, for they arc nearly of the same size ; if there 

 be any difference it would be in favor of the eggs of the builder of the 

 nest. How do the eggs get out of the nest ". Is it by the size and 

 nestling of the young Cow-bird ? This cannot always be the case ; 

 because in the instance of tlie Blue-bird's nest in the hollow stump, the 

 cavity was a foot deep, the nest at the bottom, and the ascent perpen- 

 dicular ; nevertheless the eggs were removed although filled with young 

 ones ; moreover, a young Cowpen finch is as helpless as any other 

 young bird, and so far from having the power of ejecting others from 

 the nest, or even the eggs, that they are sometimes found on the ground 

 under the nest, especially when the nest happens to be very small. I 

 will not assert that the eggs of the builder of the nest are never 

 hatched ; but I can assert that I have never been able to find one 

 instance to prove the affirmative. If all the eggs of both birds were to 

 be hatched, in some cases the nest would not hold half of them ; for 

 instance, those of the Sparrow, or Yellow-bird. I will not assert that 

 the supposititious egg is brought to perfection in less time than those 

 of the bird to which the nest belongs ; but from the fact stated, I am 

 inclined to adopt such an opinion. How are the eggs removed after the 

 accouchement of the spurious occupant? By the proprietor of the 

 nest unquestionably ; for this is consistent with the rest of her economy. 

 After the power of hatching them is taken away by her attention to 

 the young stranger, the eggs would be only an encumbrance, and there- 

 fore instinct prompts her to remove them. I might add, that I have 

 sometimes found the eggs of the Sparrow, in which were unmatured 

 young ones, lying near the nest, containing a Cow-bird, and therefore 

 I cannot resist this conclusion. Would tire foster parent feed two 

 species of young at the same time ? I believe not. I have never seen 

 an instance of any bird feeding the young of another, unless immedi- 

 ately after losing her own. I should think the sooty looking stranger 

 would scarcely interest a mother while the cries of her own oflFspring, 

 always intelligible, were to be heard. Should such a competition ever 

 take place, I judge the stranger would be the sufferer, and probably the 

 species soon become extinct. Why the lex naturce conservatrtx should 

 decide in favor of the surreptitious progeny is not for me to determine. 

 " As to the vocal powers of this bird, I believe its pretensions are 

 very humble, none of its notes deserving the epithet musical. The sort 

 of simple cackling complaint it utters at being disturbed, constitutes 

 also the expression of its pleasure at finding its companions, varying 



* The infceriious writer seems not to be aware that almost all birds are in the 

 habit, while sitting, of changing the eggs from the centre to the circumference, and 

 vice versa, that all of them may receive an equal share of warmth. 



Vol. II.— G 



