Birds of Canada. 67 



spots of dark brown. This bird feeds on insects 

 and seeds. Early in September they collect in 

 large flocks and move southward. 



Molothrus pecoris. The Cow Bird. 



The Cow Bird is eight inches long. The 

 breast, neck, and lower half of the breast, light 

 brown ; the rest of the body, bright black. 

 During the summer, this bird frequents pasture 

 fields, where cattle are grazing. It builds no 

 nest, but secretly deposits its eggs in the nests 

 of other birds usually in the nest of a Sparrow 

 or Blue Bird." It lays but one egg in each nest, 

 of a light grayish-blue, with brown spots. The 

 Cow Bird feeds on insects principally. About 

 the last of October they collect in large flocks, 

 and leave for the south. 



Agelaius pJiceniceus. The Red-winged 



Black Bird. 



This bird arrives here in small flocks about the 

 last of March. General color, lustrous black ; 

 the shoulders, vermillion or bright crimson. 

 Nests, in a low bush in a swamp or meadow ; 

 eggs, four in number, of a light blue color, 

 marked with brown spots. About the twentieth 

 of October the Red-winged Black Birds collect 

 in large flocks, and leave for their southern home. 

 Their food consists of the seeds of aquatic grasses 

 and grain, of which they are extremely fond, to 

 the injury of the farmer. 



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