THE INSTINCT OF THE COWBIRD 



troubled when it was not received. After 

 awhile she seemed to comprehend that the little 

 one could not eat, and she fed the insect to Cow-bird 



the cowbird. Before flying away, she returned 

 to the gasping bird, and looked at it by turn- 

 ing her head from side to side, while she ut- 

 tered a succession of low, plaintive notes. 



After this, both yellowbirds had all they 

 could do to supply the black giant with food. 

 When he was old enough to fly, or, at least, 

 was completely feathered, his foster-parents 

 coaxed him out of the nest after the manner 

 of all bird-kind. Birds know when their 

 young are old enough to leave the nest, and 

 withhold food until the little ones are down- 

 right hungry, and then tempt them out with 

 a dainty morsel. While tempting the young 

 cowbird from the nest, the yellowbirds made 

 as much effort and appeared as joyous when 

 successful as if the labor had been performed 

 for their own bright-eyed, pretty birdlings. 



The young cowbird, when once out, did not 

 return to the nest for shelter. His growing 

 appetite taxed the strength of both birds to 

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