86 BIRDS OF MAINE. 



the quaker wife of one of our best songsters. In fall the 

 males take on a dull-colored plumage and their sole cry be- 

 comes a low chirp or chink. In early September they leave for the 

 rice marshes of the south and here they are known as Rice Birds. 

 In New York restaurants they are served to epicures under the 

 name of Reed Birds, although the despised English Sparrow is now 

 being brought into their place under the same name. 



County Records. Audroscoggin, "common summer resident" (John- 

 sou) ; Aroostook, " not rare at Fort Fairfield" (Batchelder, Bull. Xutt. 

 Orn. CJub, Vol. 7, p. 149) Cumberland, "common summer resident'' 

 (Mead) ; Franklin, "common summer resident" (Swain) ; Hancock, "sum- 

 mer resident" (Murch) ; Kenuebec, "common summer resident" (Gardi- 

 ner Branch) ; Kuox, "summer" (RacklhT) ; Oxford, "common, breeds" 

 (Nash) ; Peuobscot, "very common breeder" (Knight) ; Piscataquis, 

 "common, breeds" (Homer) ; Sagadahoc, "common summer resident" 

 (Spinney) ; Somerset, "common summer resident" (Morrell) ; Waldo, 

 (Spratt) ; Washington, "very abundant summer resident" (Boardmau) ; 

 York, "rarely breeds" (Adams). 



Genus MOLOTHRUS Swaiuson. 



205. (495). Molothrus ater (Bodd.). Cowbird. 



A common summer resident in most parts of the state and of 

 very general distribution. This species makes no nest of its own, 

 but instead deposits its eggs in the nests of smaller birds, usually 

 laying only one egg in a nest though as many as four eggs of 

 the Cowbird have been found in one nest, these probably being the 

 product of as many different females.. The nests of our Warblers 

 are perhaps thus imposed on most often, though the Chipping Spar- 

 row, Red-eyed Vireo, and other small birds are also forced to 

 receive the intruding egg into their nests. 



County Records. Androscoggiu, "common summer resident" (John- 

 sou) ; Cumberland, "common summer resident" (Mead) ; Franklin, "com- 

 mon summer resident" (Swain) ; Hancock, 'summer 1 resident" (Dorr) ; 

 Kennebec, "quite common summer resident" (Gardiner Branch) ; Knox, 

 "migrant" (Rackliff) ; Oxford, "breeds commonly" (Nash) ; Peuobscot, 

 "a common summer resident" (Knight) ; Piscataquis, "not common" 

 (Homer) ; Sagadahoc, "common summer resident" (Spinney) ; Somerset, 

 "common summer resident" (Morrell) ; Waldo, (Spratt) ; Washington, 

 "rare summer resident" (Boardman). 



Genus XANTHOCEPHALUS Bonaparte. 



206. (497). Xauthocephalus xauthocephalus (Bonap.}. Yel- 

 low-headed Blackbird. 



