160 THE COW BLACKBIRD. 



August and the first of September literally by millions; the 

 air is so completely filled with them that it is almost impos- 

 sible to discharge a gun without killing some." 



I have seen them in like numbers along the Niagara 

 River in the latter part of September. They would darken 

 the air in flight, and, when alighting, would blacken the 

 shore for a long distance. 



Its habitat is temperate North America, reaching even to 

 Alaska, throughout which it breeds quite generally, while it 

 winters in the extreme Southern States, in Central America, 

 and in the West Indies. 



Our several species of the Swallow are among the birds 

 which are especially regular in the times of their migrations. 

 Now, as in the days of the prophet Jeremiah, it knows the 

 time of its coming, and as truly marks the ushering in of 

 the joyous days of spring as when the boys of Athens sang 

 their familiar ditty in its honor. 



The Swallows, Swifts, and Goat-suckers were formerly all 

 classed together as Fissirostrals, or those having a deeply- 

 cleft bill. The resemblance which the Swallows bear to the 

 two other groups is, however, merely external, an analogy 

 rather than an affinity. 



A strict anatomy proves the Swallows alone to have the 

 complicated muscular system of the lower larynx belonging 

 to the birds of song, while the remaining Fissirostrals, having 

 the simpler larnx of the non-singing birds, are placed among 

 the Flycatchers and Humming-birds. 



THE COW BLACKBIRD. 



One of the most beautiful and forcible lessons in nature 

 is the conjugal and parental affection of the birds. The 

 inimitable songs of the males are generally most ardently 

 and sweetly delivered, while the females are enduring the 



