IN THE HEMLOCKS 



parts of the woods at this season, watching for an 

 opportunity 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 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 halfway I acciden- 

 tally made a slight noise, when the bird flew up, 

 and seeing me, hurried off out of the woods. Ar- 

 rived at the place, I found a simple nest of dry 

 grass and leaves partially concealed under a pros- 

 trate 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 cowbird finds the full comple- 

 ment of eggs in a nest, it throws out one and de- 

 posits its own instead. I revisited the nest a few 

 days afterward and found an egg 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 cowbird lin- 

 gering near, the former uttering his peculiar liquid, 

 glassy note from the tops of the trees. 

 103 



