COWBIBD. 



495. Molothrus ater. 7% inches. 



Male glossy greenish black, with a brown head; fe- 

 male and young, dull gray. 



Groups of these birds are often seen walking sedately 

 about among the cows in the pasture, hence their name. 

 They are the only birds that we have that neither make 

 a nest of their own nor care for their young. The fe- 

 male slyly deposits her egg in the nest of a smaller bird 

 when the owner is absent, leaving further care of it to 

 its new owner. Warblers, Sparrows and Vireos seem to 

 be most imposed upon in this manner. 



Notes. A low "chack," and by the male a liquid, wiry 

 squeak accompanied by a spreading of the wings and 

 tail. 



Eange. U. S., chiefly east of the Rockies, breeding 

 from the Gulf to Manitoba and Xew Brunswick; win- 

 ters in southern U. S. A sub-species, the Dwarf Cow- 

 bird (obscurus), is found in southwestern United States; 

 it is slightly smaller. 



