AVES—COW-BUNTING. 527 
flies, and caterpillars. They pour down upon the oat fields in a torrent, and 
resort to the shores of the Delaware and Schuylkill in immense numbers, to 
feed upon the reeds or wild oats» Atthis time they are extremely fat. Their 
note isa single chink, and is heard overhead with little intercession from 
inorning to night. These are halcyon days for our gunners, and many a 
lame and rusty gun-barrel is put in requisition for the sport. The report of 
musketry along the reedy shores of the river is almost incessant, resembling 
a running fire. The markets of Philadelphia at this season exhibit proofs of 
the prodigious havoc made among the birds. In the fall, they swarm in the 
tice fielés, and devour great quantities of that grain. 
ro 
THE OOW - BUNTING. 
Tye cow-bunting has a most remarkable character, which is the unac- 
countable practice it has of dropping its eggs into the nests of other birds, 
instead of building and hatching for itself; and thus entirely abandons its 
‘amily to the care and mercy of strangers. I have often found the young 
cow-bunting in the nests of small birds; and have seen these last followed 
by the young foundling, calling out clamorously for food; and I once took a 
very fine one trom the nest o1 the Maryland yellow throat, where 1t was 
fostered with great care. 
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1 Emberiza pecoris, Wi1Lson. 
