156 XOIJTH AMKIiFCAN JilKDS.. 



hlavkhurnia , D. prmisylvaiiiid ami D. (/iscD/or, Siinnis aurora])iiliis, Sdophoga 

 rutinlht, (Ji/(niOfij)i.:a fi/mica, Vonfajins riirns, etc. I liavo also known of 

 tliL'iv e;ig.s having; been Ibnnd in the nests of Viiro belli and V. pKsillits, and 

 Ci/anonjikii iimouia. Dr. Cooper has found their eg;^ in the nest of Ideria 

 rhrns; and ^Ir. T. H. Jackson of West Chester, Penn., in those ol' £mj>ulu- 

 nnx ncadicits and Pjimnii« rubra. 



X^sually not more than a single Cowbird's egg is found in the same nest, 

 though it is not lUKionnnon to lind two; anil in a few instances three and 

 even four eggs have been met with. In one instance Mr. Trippe mentions 

 having found in the nt if a lUack and White ("ree]ier, besides three eggs 

 of the owner of the nest, no less than ti\e of the parasite. Mr. II. S. Kod- 

 ney reports having found, in Potsdam, N. Y., May IT), 18G8, a nest of Zoiio- 

 trkhio IciicopJiri/s of two stories, in one of which was buried a Cowbird's egg, 

 and in the upjter there were two more of the same, with three eggs of the 

 rightful owners. In the sjjring of IHGit the same gentleman found a nest of 

 the Sai/ornisfitsriis with three Cowbird's eggs and three of her own. 



Mr. Yickary, of Lynn, found, in the sju-ing of J8G(t, the nest of a Sriio'us 

 aurornpilliis, in which, with only one egg of the rightful owner, there were 

 no less than four of the Cowliird. All live eggs were perfectly fresh, and had 

 not been set upon. In the sunmier of the preceding j-ear the same gentle- 

 man found a nest of the IJed-eyetl Vireo containing three eggs of the Yireo 

 and four of the Cow Pdackitird. 



How the oll'si)ring from these eggs may all fare wiien more than one of 

 the.se voracious nurslings are hatclied in the same nest, is an interesting 

 problem, well worthy the attention of some patiently intiuiring naturalist to 

 solve. 



The Cow Dlackbird ap])ears in New England with a varying degree of 

 promptnes.s, sometimes as eiirly as the latter ]uirt of March, and as fretjuently 

 not until the middle of April. Xuttall states that none are seen in Massa- 

 chu.selts after tlie middle of June until tiie following October, and Allen, 

 that they are there all the sunnner. ^ly own observations do not correspond 

 with the statement of either of the.se gentlemen. They certainly do become 

 (piite rare in the ea.stern jiart of that State after the third week in June, but 

 that all the females are not gone is ja'oved by the constant iinding of freshly 

 laid eggs up to -fuly 1. 1 have ne\ jr been able to find a Cow Pdackbird in 

 Eiistern Mas.sachusetts between the iir.st of July and the middle of Sej)- 

 tember. This I attribute to the absence of sulUcient food. In the Candjridge 

 marshes they remain until all the seeds have been consumed, and only reap- 

 pear when the new crop is edible. 



This Blackbird is a general i'eeder, eating in.sects, apparently in preference, 

 and wild seed. They derive their name of Cow I>lackl)ird from their keep- 

 ing aliout that animal, and finding, either from her jjarasitic insects or her 

 droppings, oj)portunities for i'ood. Thoy I'eed on the ground, and occasion- 

 ally .scratch for in.sect.s. At the South, to a limited extent, they frecxuent 

 the rice-fields in company with tlu; IJi'd-winged lUackbird. 



