72 IN THE 'HEMLOCKS. 



These birds may be seen prowling through all 

 parts of the woods at this season, watching for an 

 opportunity to steal their egg into some nest. One 

 da) wh le & tting on a log I saw one moving by 

 short flights through the trees and gradually near- 

 ing the ground, its movements were hurried and 

 stealthy. About fifty yards from me it disappeared 

 behind some low brush and had evidently alighted 

 upon the ground. 



After waiting a few moments I cautiously walked 

 in the direction. When about half way I accidentally 

 made a slight noise, when the bird flew up, and see- 

 ing me hurried off out of the woods. Arrived at the 

 place, I found a simple nest of dry grass and leaves 

 partially concealed under a prostrate branch. I took 

 it to be the nest of a sparrow. There were three 

 eggs in the nest and one lying about a foot below it 

 as if it had been rolled out, as of course it had. It 

 suggested the thought that perhaps when the cow- 

 bird finds the full complement of eggs in a nest, it 

 throws out one and deposits its own instead. I re- 

 visited the nest a few days afterward and found an 

 i-,Ug again cast out, but none had been put in its place. 

 The nest had been abandoned by its owner and the 

 eggs were stale. 



In all cases where I have found this egg, I have 

 observed both male and female of the cow-bird linger- 

 ing near, the former uttering his peculiar liquid, glassy 

 note from the tops of the trees. 



In July the young, which have been reared in the 



