1380 OBSERVATIONS ON CANADIAN BIRDS. 
It is possible that a few individuals may spend the winter with us, in 
sheltered situations; as when visiting a farm house near Dundas, 
early in March (1857,) I was surprised to see half a dozen of these 
birds nestling close together on a beam just above the cattle in the 
cow-house. On enquiry, I found they had been there all winter, com- 
ing out for a few hours about midday, and gleaning seeds from among 
the fodder of the cattle. They were all males, and seemed in excel- 
lent condition. 
It was long a subject of remark among those who were fond of 
observing the habits of birds, that the nest of the Cow Bunting was 
seldom, if ever, found, and suspicions were entertained that some 
irregularity existed in their mode of perpetuating their race, but 
Wilson was the first to establish the fact, that they not only shirk 
the duties of incubation, but that the whole tribe live in a state of the 
most unrestrained polygamy. Their conduct, in this respect, forms 
a striking contrast to that of all our other summer birds: these, as 
soon as they arrive from their winter quarters, lay aside the instinct 
which has kept them in flocks during their migratory course, and 
scattering about in pairs, each pair makes choice of a particular tree 
or bush, which is to be their home for the season. To this spot they 
are devotedly attached, and near it the male may be constantly seen, 
either cheering his mate with a song, or fighting bitter battles of dispu- 
ted boundary with his troublesome neighbours. Even the Woodpeck- 
ers, which, some writers say, have the smallest share of enjoyment of all 
the feathered tribes, may at this season be seen chattering and chasing 
each other round the favorite decayed tree, whose hollow recess is to 
be the cradle for their young. During all this excitement, the Cow- 
birds remain in a state of callous indifference, and in small flocks, 
keep roaming about the clearings like bands of vagrants, with no 
song save a few spluttering notes, holding no intercourse with other 
birds, and with no attachment to any locality, save that where food is 
most abundant, 
As the season of incubation advances, the female Cow-bird leaves 
the flock, and having made choice of a nest tojsuit her purpose, 
deposits therein one egg, and leaves it, not only without hesitation, 
but, judging from her manner, with evident satisfaction. The nest 
so selected is usually that of a Fly-catcher or Warbler, in which the 
owner has just made a similar deposit. Wilson, who spent much time 
an investigating this matter, tells us, that the egg of the Cow-bird is 
