BIRDS OF KANSAS. 395 



GENUS MOLOTHRUS SWAIXSOX. 



"Bill short, stout, about two-thirds the length of head; the commissure 

 straight, culmen and gonys slightly curved, convex, the former broad, rounded, 

 convex, and running back on the head in a point. Lateral toes nearly equal, 

 reaching the base of the middle one, which is shorter than the tarsus; claws 

 rather small; tail nearly even; wings long, pointed, the first quill longest. As 

 far as known, the species make no nest, but deposit the eggs in the nests of 

 other (usually smaller) birds." 



Molothrus ater (BODD.). 



COWBIRD. 

 PLATE XXV. 



Summer resident; abundant. Arrive early in March to first 

 of April; begin laying about the last of May; return in October; 

 occasionally linger into November. 



B. 400. R. 258. C. 313. G. 130, 190. U. 495. 



HABITAT. The United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific; 

 north into the southern British possessions; south in winter to 

 southern Mexico. 



SP. CHAR. "Second quill longest; first scarcely shorter; tail nearly even, or 

 very slightly rounded. Male: With head, neck and anterior half of the breast 

 light chocolate brown, rather lighter above; rest of body lustrous black, with a 

 violet purple gloss next to the brown, of steel blue on the back, and of green 

 elsewhere. Female: Light olivaceous brown all over, lighter on the head and 

 beneath." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 8.00 13.75 4.40 3.25 1.00 .65 



Female... 7.25 12.25 3.90 2.70 1.00 .62 



Iris brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black. 



This widely distributed species are strictly gregarious and 

 polygamous in their habits, and indiscriminate eaters of seeds, 

 grains, berries and insects. During the winter months, in com- 

 pany with the Bobolink and Red-winged Blackbird, do much 

 damage in the rice fields, and are to be looked for in summer 

 about the corrals and grazing grounds, following the cattle and 

 horses about over the range to catch the flies that bite and annoy 

 them; welcome friends, they are allowed to perch and rest upon 

 their backs at pleasure. In spring and early summer the males, 

 with raised feathers, spread tails and throats puffed out, utter a 

 guttural song, or rather attempt at one, which is no doubt pleas- 



