ARGENTINE COW-BIRD 69 
change again to the excessively attenuated sounds at 
the close. 
The nest is deep, well built, and well concealed, 
sometimes resting on the ground, but frequently 
raised above it. It contains five long, pointed eggs, 
with a white or bluish-white ground-colour, and 
thickly spotted with brown. I have frequently found 
the eggs of the Molothrus in its nest, but have never 
been able to see this Sparrow feeding, or followed 
by, a young Molothrus. Possibly, if it ever hatches 
the parasitical egg at all, the young Cow-bird is 
starved by the food supplied by its foster-parents, 
as this Finch may feed its young on seed instead of 
grubs. 
ARGENTINE COW-BIRD 
Molothrus Bonariensis 
Uniform shining purple-black; beak and feet black; length 7.5 
inches, Female slightly smaller; plumage uniform mouse-colour, 
WE have now come to a remarkable family of Pas- 
serine birds, the Icteride or Troupials, which includes 
the Hang-nests and so-called Orioles of North and 
South America and the parasitical Cow-birds. They 
are the Starlings of the New World and appear to be 
an offshoot of the true Starlings, just as the Tanagers 
are of the Finches, but Tanagers and Finches exist 
together throughout South America, whereas the 
true Starling is unknown in that continent. Many 
