8 2 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



ground, densely and uniformly spotted or blotched 

 with red. Another not uncommon variety has a very 

 pale, flesh-coloured ground, uniformly marked with 

 fine characters, that look as if inscribed on the shell 

 with a pen, A much rarer variety has a pure white 

 shell with a few large or variously sized brown and 

 chocolate spots. Perhaps the rarest variety is an egg 

 entirely of a fine deep red ; but between this lovely 

 marbled egg and the white one with almost imper- 

 ceptible specks, there are varieties without number ; 

 for there is no such thing as characteristic markings 

 in the eggs of this species, although, as I have said 

 before, the eggs of the same individual show a family 

 resemblance. 



HABITS OF THE YOUNG M, bonariemis 



Small birds of all species, when first hatched, 

 closely resemble each other ; after they are fledged 

 the resemblance is less, but still comparatively great ; 

 grey, interspersed with brown, is the colour of most 

 of them, or at least of the upper exposed plumage. 

 There is also a great similarity in their cries of 

 hunger and fear shrill, querulous, prolonged, and 

 usually tremulous notes. It is not then to be wondered 

 at that the foster-parents of the young Molothrus 

 so readily respond to its cries, understanding the 

 various expressions denoting hunger, fear, pain, as 

 well as when uttered by their own offspring. But 

 the young Molothrus never understands the language 

 of its foster-parents as other young birds understand 



