Conspicuously Black 



the South. One day he asked an old colored man what these 

 squashes were for. 



"Why, deh is martins' boxes," said Uncle Remus. "No 

 danger of hawks carryin' off de chickens so long as de martins 

 am around." 



The Indians, too, have always had a special liking for this 

 bird. They often lined a hollowed-out gourd with bits of bark 

 and fastened it in the crotch of their tent poles to invite its friend- 

 ship. The Mohegan Indians have called it "the bird that never 

 rests" — a name better suited to the tireless barn swallow, Dr. 

 Abbott thinks. 



Wasps, beetles, and all manner of injurious garden insects 

 constitute its diet — another reason for its universal popularity. 

 It is simple enough to distinguish the martins from the other 

 swallows by their larger size and iridescent dark coat, not to 

 mention their song, which is very soft and sweet, like musical 

 laughter, rippling up through the throat. 



■ I 



Cowbird 



(Molothrus ater) Blackbird family 



Called also: BROWN-HEADED ORIOLE; COW-PEN BIRD; 

 COW BLACKBIRD ; COW BUNTING 



Length — 7 to 8 inches. About one-fifth smaller than the robin. 

 Male — Iridescent black, with head, neck, and breast glistening 



brown. Bill dark brown, feet brownish. 

 Female— Y)\x\\ grayish-brown above, a shade lighter below, and 



streaked with paler shades of brown. 

 Range — United States, from coast to coast. North into British 



America, south into Mexico. 

 Migrations — March. November. Common summer resident. 



The cowbird takes its name from its habit of walking about 

 among the cattle in the pasture, picking up the small insects 

 which the cattle disturb in their grazing. The bird may often 

 be seen within a foot or two of the nose of a cow or heifer, walk- 

 ing briskly about like a miniature hen, intently watching for its 

 insect prey. 



Its marital and domestic character is thoroughly bad. 



49 



