season a vigorous and persistent singer. Samuels calls its song "a most curious, incom- 

 prehensible, jingling, roundabout, joyous, laughable medley." When the young have 

 flown, the Bobolink loses its bright plumage and its rollicking song, and indulges for the 

 remainder of its sojourn in nothing more melodious than a peculiar chirp. 

 A bird of the meadows, and nests upon the ground. 



PLATE XX. COWBIRD. 



Molotbrus ater, 



General color iridescent black; head and neck deep brown; tail 

 square ; bill and feet black. Length, 7.90 inches. 



Migratory. Arrives early in April, leaves early in October. The Ccwbird does not 

 pair, it builds no nest, and the hatching of its eggs is imposed upon some other bird after 

 the fashion of the European Cuckoo. It is, in short, a polygamist, a parasite, and altogether 

 "a bird of loose principles." It is found in flocks, usually in the company of cattle, 

 and has a harsh call, suggesting the syllables cluck -see -see. A walker. 



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