COW BUNTING, 185 



" In autumn we often find them congregated with the marsh 

 " Blackbirds, committing their common depredations upon the 

 "ears of the Indian corn; and at other seasons the similarity of 

 " their pursuits in feeding introduces them into the same com- 

 " pany. I could never observe that they would keep the com- 

 " pany of any other bird. 



"The Cow-pen finch differs moreover in another respect from 

 " all the birds with which I am acquainted. After an observance 

 " of many years I could never discover any thing like pairing or 

 " a mutual attachment between the sexes. Even in the season of 

 " love, when other birds are separated into pairs, and occupied 

 " in the endearing office of providing a receptacle for their off- 

 " spring, the Fringillae are seen feeding in odd as well as even 

 " numbers, from one to twenty, and discovering no more disposi- 

 " tion towards perpetuating their species than birds of any other 

 " species at other seasons, excepting a promiscuous concubinage 

 " which pervades the whole tribe. When the female separates 

 "from the company, her departure is not noticed; no gallant 

 " partner accompanies her, nor manifests any solicitude in her 

 " absence; nor is her return greeted by that gratulatory tender- 

 " ness that so eminently characterizes the males of other birds. 

 "The male proffers the same civilities to any female indiscrim- 

 " inately, and they are reciprocated accordingly, without exci- 

 " ting either resentment or jealousy in any of the party. This 

 " want of sexual attachment is not inconsistent with the gene- 

 " ral economy of this singular bird; for as they are neither their 

 " own architect, nor nurse of their own young, the degree of 

 " attachment that governs others would be superfluous. 



" to produce much disease is problematical, their superabundance at this sea- 

 " son cannot be denied. The larvae of several species are deposited in the ve- 

 " getables when green, and the cattle are fed on them as fodder in winter. 

 " This furnishes the principal inducement for the bird to follow the cattle in 

 " spring, when the aperient effects of the green grasses evacuates great num- 

 " bers of worms. At this season the pecoris often stuffs its crop with them till 

 " it can contain no more. There are several species, but the most numerous 

 " is a small white one similar to, if not the same as, the ascaris of the human 

 "species." 



VOL. II. A a 



