69 



Eggs 4-6, stone-gray, mottled and spotted with various shades 

 of brown. Nest of grass, on the ground in open fields. Eggs 

 laid early in June and in July. Feeds on insects, seeds, etc. 

 Beneficial. Notes, the familiar, clear, rollicking bob-o-link, 

 rapidly repeated with variations. 



92. Molothrus ater (Bodd.). 

 COWBIRD. COW BLACKBIRD. 



Male : Lustrous green-black; head and neck, coffee brown. 

 Female: Dusky grayish-brown, each feather centered with darker. 

 Length, 7-8 inches. 



Common summer resident. Earliest arrival, March 9 (Miss 

 Morse) ; latest departure in Oct. 14 (I. C. Greene). Eggs 

 white thickly spotted with pale brown ; laid in the nests of 

 other, usually smaller, birds ; as many as 5 cow-birds eggs have 

 been found in one nest, but whether laid by five different 

 females or not is not known, nor do we know how many eggs 

 each female lays. Feeds on insects, seeds, etc. Possibly ben- 

 eficial in its choice of food, but there is little else to be said 

 in favor of this sneaking, shiftless bird. (See Chapman, p. 

 263). Notes, few and unmusical. 



93. Agelaius phoeniceus (Linn.). 

 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



Adult Male: Black; lesser wing coverts, bright scarlet; middle coverts, 

 buff. 



Female AND YOUNG: Above, blackish-brown with pale streaks; beneath, 

 whitish, streaked with dusky; chin and bend of wing often tinged with 

 reddish. Length, S-9 inches. 



Common summer resident. Earliest arrival, March 11 ; 

 latest departure Oct. 29 (I. C. Greene). Raises 2 broods. 

 Eggs 3-5, pale greenish or bluish, spotted and streaked with 

 dark brown and black. Nest of grass, rushes, leaves, etc. in 

 low bushes, on tussocks, or among cat-tails. Eggs laid in May 

 and early in July. Feeds on insects, grain, seeds, etc. Bene- 

 ficial. Note, a loud ^^kong-ga-ree"' 



