IN THE HEMLOCKS. 6$ 



trick ; and when one reflects upon their numbers it is 

 evident that these little tragedies are quite frequent. 

 In Europe the parallel case is that of the cuckoo, and 

 occasionally our own cuckoo imposes upon a robin 

 or a thrush in the same manner. The cow-bunting 

 seems to have no conscience about the matter, and, 

 so far as I have observed, invariably selects the nest of 

 a bird smaller than itself. Its egg is usually the first 

 to hatch ; its young overreaches all the rest when food 

 is brought ; it grows with great rapidity, spreads and 

 fills the nest, and the starved and crowded occupants 

 soon perish, when the parent bird removes their dead 

 bodies, giving its whole energy and care to the foster- 

 child. 



The warblers and smaller fly-catchers are generally 

 the sufferers, though I sometimes see the slate-colored 

 snow-bird unconsciously duped in like manner ; and 

 the other day, in a tall tree in the woods, I discovered 

 the black-throated green-backed warbler devoting itself 

 to this dusky, overgrown foundling. An old fanner to 

 whom I pointed out the fact was much surprised that 

 such things should happen in his woods without his 

 knowledge. 



These birds may be seen prowling through all parts 

 of the woods at this season, watching for an opportu- 

 nity to steal their egg into some nest. One day while 

 sitting on a log I saw one moving by short flights 

 through the trees and gradually nearing the ground. 

 Its movements were hurried and stealthy. About fifty 



