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COW-UUNTING. 



locality, and therefore, they -must, in so far, form an 

 index to the general economy of nature in that 

 locality, if we could but once become acquainted 

 with their manners. 



The allied tribes which used to be included in the 

 same genus, but are now separated from it, differ in 

 some of their characters ; but it may not be amiss 

 here to mention one of them which is still popularly, 

 at least, considered as a bull-head. This is, 



Aspedorus Europceus, the armed bull-head or pogge, 

 the characters of which are : the body eight cornered, 

 covered with scaly plates, and tapering toward the 

 tail. The head thicker than the body, snout with 

 red coloured spines, and teeth in both jaws, but none 

 on the vomer. Two distinct dorsal fins, but smaller 

 than those of the former species. This is a northerly 

 fish also ; but in summer it is found in most of the 

 sandy bays, near the mouths of rivers on the east 

 coasts of Britain : it is small, not above six inches in 

 length, but its flesh is described as being firmer and 

 better than that of the true cotta. 



COW-BUNTING, or CATTLE-BIRD (Molo- 

 thrus pecoris, Swainson). " There is one striking 

 peculiarity in the works of the great Creator," observes 

 Wilson, the historian of the birds of the United States, 

 " which becomes more amazing the more we reflect 

 on it, namely, that he has formed no species of animals 

 so minute, or obscure, that are not invested with 

 certain powers and peculiarities, both of outward con- 

 formation and internal faculties, exactly suited to 

 their pursuits, sufficient to distinguish them from all 

 others; and forming for them a character, solely and 

 exclusively their own. This is particularly so among 

 the feathered race. If there be any case where these 

 characteristic features are not evident, it is owing to 

 our want of observation ; to our little intercourse with 

 .that particular tribe ; or to that contempt for inferior 

 Animals, and all their habitudes, vvhich is but too 

 general, and which bespeaks a morose, unfeeling, and 

 unreflecting mind. These peculiarities are often sur- 

 prising, always instructive when understood, and, (as 

 in the subject of the present article,) at least amusing, 

 and worthy of being farther investigated." 



"The American cattle-bird, the subject of the present 

 memoir, is a small bird, about the size of the European 

 sky-lark, and belongs to the natural family Sturnidte, 

 or starling tribe ; forming one of the many connecting 

 links between that family and the Fringillidce, or 

 finches. It is closely allied to the troopials (Aglaius}, 

 or the genus to which the common red-winged black- 

 bird (as it is locally called) of North America belongs ; 

 but is even more finch-like, or rather bunting-like, in 

 its form, and so very peculiar and remarkable in its 

 habits and history, that it cannot exactly be classed 

 in the same division with any other known species. 

 The form of the bill is very nearly that of the true 

 bunting (Emberiza), but straighter, and more starling- 

 like in its outline ; and the general shape of the 

 body is about the same as that of the troopials, 

 only rather more finch-like ; its length is about seven 

 inches, and extent of the wings eleven inches. The head 

 and neck are of a very deep silky drab, and the upper 

 part of the breast a dark changeable violet ; the rest 

 of the bird black, with a considerable gloss of green 

 when exposed to a good light. Tail, slightly forked ; 

 legs and claws glossy black, strong and muscular ; iris 

 of the eye dark hazel. The female is, all over, of a 

 brown colour, somewhat paler underneath, and the 

 young male birds are, at first, altogether brown, and, 



| for a month or more, are naked of feathers round th 

 eye and mouth ; the breast is also spotted like that 

 of a thrush, with light drab and darker streaks. IB 

 about two months after they leave the nest, the black 

 commences at the shoulders of the wings, and gradually 

 increases along each side as the young feathers come 

 out, until the bird appears mottled on the back and 

 breast with deep black and light drab. At three 

 months the colours of the plumage are complete, and, 

 except in moulting, are subject to no periodical 

 change. The sexes also are alike in size, and do not 

 exhibit, in this respect, the remarkable disparity 

 which is observed in all the troopials. 



" The most remarkable trait in the character of 

 this species is, the unaccountable practice it has of 

 dropping its eggs into the nests of other birds, 

 instead of building and hatching for itself, and thus 

 entirely abandoning its progeny to the care of 

 strangers. More than two thousand years ago, it was 

 well known, in those countries where the bird inhabits, 

 that the cuckoo of Europe (Cucu/us canurus'j" See 

 CUCKOO " never built herself a nest, but dropt her 

 eggs in the nests of other birds ; but, among the 

 thousands of different species that spread over that 

 and other parts of the globe, no other instance of the 

 same uniform habit has been found to exist," (save, 

 however, in one or two other species of L'HCHI'US,) 

 " until discovered in the bird now before us. Of the 

 reality of the former there is no doubt ; it is known 

 to every school-boy in Britain ; of the truth of the 

 latter I can, myself, speak with confidence, from 

 personal observation, and from the testimony of 

 gentlemen, unknown to each other, and residing in 

 different and distant parts of the United States." 



These are the words of Wilson ; and, as those of 

 an original observer are always far better than any 

 abstract that can be made of them, we will here copy 

 his description of the habits of this singular species at 

 some length, intending also to give a rather detailed 

 account of those of the European cuckoo ; the pecu- 

 liarities of the one being found to throw not a little 

 light upon those of the other. " The circumstances," 

 he continues, " by which I became first acquainted 

 with this peculiar habit of the bird are as follow : 



' I had, in numerous instances, found, in the nests 

 of three or four particular species of birds, one egg 

 much larger, and differently marked from those 

 beside it ; I had remarked, that these odd-looking 

 eggs were all of the same colour, and marked nearly 

 in the same manner, in whatever nest they lay, though 

 frequently the eggs beside them were of a quite 

 different tint ; and I had also been told, in a vague 

 way, that the cow-bird laid in other birds' nests. At 

 length I detectfd the female of this very bird in the 

 nest of the red-eyed fly-catcher, which nest is very 

 small, and very singularly constructed ;" (a neat 

 pensile nest, hung by the two upper edges, and very 

 firm and durable). " Suspecting her purpose, I 

 cautiously withdrew without disturbing her, and had 

 the satisfaction to find, on rny return, that the egg 

 which she had just dropt, corresponded as nearly as 

 eggs of the same species usually do, in its size, tint, 

 and markings, to those formerly taken notice of. Since 

 that time, I have found the young cow-bunting, in 

 many instances, in the nests of one or other of these 

 small birds. I have seen these last followed by the 

 young cow-bird, calling out clamorously for food, and 

 often engaged in feeding it ; and I have now. in a 

 cage before me, a very fine one, which, six months 



