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 Icteridae 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 



