THE COWBIRD 36 



little pedestrians there amid the grazing cattle 

 there are two or more sparrows, or vireos, or 

 warblers, the less. It is a big price to pay, 

 two larks for a bunting, two sovereigns for a 

 shilling ; but Nature does not hesitate occasion- 

 ally to contradict herself in just this way. The 

 young of the cowbird is disproportionately large 

 and aggressive, one might say hoggish. When 

 disturbed, it will clasp the nest and scream and 

 snap its beak threateningly. One was hatched out 

 in a song sparrow's nest which was under my ob- 

 servation, and would soon have overridden and 

 overborne the young sparrow which came out of 

 the shell a few hours later, had I not interfered 

 from time to time and lent the young sparrow a 

 helping hand. Every day I would visit the nest 

 and take the sparrow out from under the pot- 

 bellied interloper, and place it on top, so that 

 presently it was able to hold its own against its 

 enemy. Both birds became fledged and left the 

 nest about the same time. Whether the race was 

 an even one after that, I know not. 



