294 



BLACKBIRDS. 



Crow Blackbirds belong to the family Icteridae which in- 

 cludes also the Orioles, Bob-o-link, or Reed bird, Cow Bunting, 

 Rusty Crackle, Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds 

 and Meadow Lark. In Pennsylvania we have only nine species 

 and one geographical race of this family, which is a sort of con- 

 necting link between the Crows and the Sparrows. The Cow 

 Bunting or Cow Blackbird is the only species in the State 

 which builds no nest or makes no effort to look after its young. 

 It is a veritable feathered parasite, with no musical ability. 

 Cow Blackbirds never male; they are polygamous, and are at 

 all seasons of the year seen in flocks. Like the Cuckoos of 

 the Old World the Cow Blackbird drops her eggs in the nestg 

 of other birds, such as Orioles, Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, 

 Song Sparrow, Chippy, Vireos, etc. 



