354 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



Moiothrus pecoris, Swainson. 



This well-known species, the Cowbird, though 

 an early visitor in Massachusetts, which according 

 to the authority of Samuels makes its appearance 

 there as early as the middle of March, from some 

 cause or other, has never been observed by us 

 earlier, than the second week of April, long after 

 the bluebird, robin, and blackbird have made the 

 fields and woods resound with their melodies. Its 

 arrival is announced by the coming of the warblers 

 and sparrows between whom and it exist such 

 mysterious relations. The anomalous habit which 

 the female Cowbird possesses of visiting the nests 

 of smaller birds when she wishes to oviposit, and 

 thus shifting a. responsibility which she should 

 alone assume, is quite familiar. 



It is probable that in primitive times all species 

 were equally as social and gregarious as the one 

 under consideration; and that the present system 

 of mating which is certainly an index of a high 

 state of improvement, has been gradually evolved. 



The art of nest-building has, doubtless, also been 

 slowly acquired. In some families it has attained 

 a wonderful degree of perfection ; while in others 

 it may be said to -be in its infancy. With the 

 Cowbird, either it has never been studied, so to 

 speak, or else it is a lost art which has never been 

 restored. 



This species is exceedingly shy and suspicious, 

 and can be approached only with the greatest pre- 



