THE KED-WINGED STAKLING. 



447 



such a contradiction ever take place, I judge the stranger would be the sufferer, and 

 probably the sparrows removed soon become extinct. Why the lex naturce conservatrix 

 should decide in favour of the supposititious fledgling is not for me to determine." 



The Cow Bird derives its name from its habit of haunting the pasture-lands for the 

 purpose of feeding upon the numerous flies and other insects that are always to be found 

 in the vicinity of cattle ; it is also 

 known under the titles of Cow 

 Bunting, and Cow-pen Bird. 



The colouring of the Cow Bird ^-;^ 



is pleasing, though not brilliant. ^ -c - '" 'x' 



The head and neck are of a dark 

 drab, and have a kind of silken 

 gloss ; the whole of the upper 

 surface and abdomen are black 

 " shot " with green, and the upper 

 part of the breast is dark violet. 

 When young it is altogether brown, 

 and the darker tints make their 

 appearance by degrees, showing 

 themselves in patches here and 

 there, which enlarge as the bird 

 grows older, and finally overspread 

 the entire body. The length of 

 the bird is about seven inches. 



The Eed-winged Starling is 

 one of those birds which may 

 either be looked upon as most 

 beneficial or most hurtful to the 

 coasts in which they live, accord- 

 ing to the light in which they are 

 viewed. 



From the farmer's point of 

 view, it is one of his worst enemies, 

 as it eats vast amounts of grain, 

 and assembles in such enormous 

 flocks that the fields are black 

 with their presence, and the sun 

 is obscured by the multitude of 

 their w4ngs. The soft immature 

 grain of the Indian corn is a 

 favourite food with the Eed- 

 winged Starlings, and according 

 to Wilson, " reinforced by nume- 

 rous and daily flocks from all 

 parts of the interior, they pour 

 down on the low countries in 

 prodigious multitudes. Hence 



they are seen like vast clouds, wheeling and driving over the meadows and deserted corn- 

 fields, darkening the air with their numbers. They commence the work of destruction on 

 the corn, the husks of which, though composed of numerous envelopments of closely 

 wrapped leaves, are soon completely torn off ; while from all quarters myriads continue 

 to pour down like a tempest, blackening half an acre at a time, and if not disturbed 

 repeat their depredations till little remains but the cob and the shrivelled skins of the 

 grain. From dawn to nearly sunset this open and daring devastation is carried on, under 



RED-WINGED S,T\'Rl,l'SG.—Agelaius phceniceus 



