250 TJie World-Evidence^ 



of the young Molothrus is very different, yet quite as 

 illustrative, from this point of definite unlikeness to 

 the habits of the legitimate young of the nest in 

 which it finds itself. Major Bendire has these very 

 pregnant remarks on this subject : 



" Consider the different behaviour of three species 

 that seldom or never warn their offspring of danger : 

 the young of Synallaxis spixi, though in a deep 

 domed nest, will throw itself to the ground, attempt- 

 ing thus to make its escape ; the young of Mini us 

 patagoniciis sits close and motionless, with closed 

 eyes, mimicking death ; the young of our common 

 Zenaida, even before it is fledged, will swell itself up 

 and strike angrily at the intruder with beak and 

 wings, and, by making so brave a show of its ineffi- 

 cient weapons, it probably often saves itself from 

 destruction. But anything approaching the young 

 Molothrus is welcomed with fluttering wings and 

 clamorous cries, as if all creatures were expected to 

 minister to its necessities. . . . The young Molotlirus 

 never understands the language of its foster-parents 

 as other young birds understand the language of 

 their real parents." 



Up to a certain point it is clear that the same is 

 true of the young cuckoo in many nests in which he 

 finds himself. 



We see thus, from a comparison of the various 

 American cow-birds, a series, so to speak, of living 

 links in the process of development. First of all, we 

 have in Molothrus hadius the lower level. As Mr. 

 Hudson says, they sometimes live promiscuously 

 together in flocks, and sometimes pair. They either 

 build a nest of their own or seize on one belonging 



