OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 2I3 



Hab. United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, north into 

 Southern British America, south, in winter, into Mexico. 



Nest, none. 



Eggs, deposited in the nest ot another bird ; dull white, thickly dotted, 

 and sometimes blotched, with brown ; number uncertain. 



In Southern Ontario nearly all the Cowbirds are migratory, 

 but on two occasions I have seen them located here in winter. 

 There were in each instance ten or a dozen birds which stayed 

 by the farmhouse they had selected for their winter residence, 

 and roosted on the beams above the cattle in the cow-house. 

 Early in April the migratory flocks arrive from the south, and 

 soon they are seen in small solitary parties, chiefly in pasture 

 fields and by the banks of streams all over the country. 



At this interesting season of the year, when all other 

 birds are mated and are striving to make each other happy in 

 the faithful discharge of their various domestic duties, the Cow- 

 birds, despising all family relations, keep roving about, enjoying 

 themselves after their own free love fashion, with no preference 

 for any locality save that where food is most easily obtained. 

 The deportment of the male at this season is most ludicrous. 

 With the view of pleasing his female associate of the hour, he 

 puffs himself out to nearly double his usual size and makes the 

 most violent contortions seeking to express his feelings in 

 song, but like individuals of the human species whom we some- 

 times meet he is "tongue-tied," and can only give utterance to 

 a few spluttering notes. 



As the time for laying draws near the female leaves her 

 associates, and manifesting much uneasiness seeks diligently 

 for the nest of another bird to suit her purpose. This is usually 

 that of a bird smaller than herself, which the owner has just 

 finished and may have made therein a first deposit. Into such 

 a nest the female Cowbird drops her egg, and leaving it, with 

 evident feelings of satisfaction, joins her comrades and thinks 

 no more about the matter. B}' the owners of the nest the 

 intrusion is viewed with great dislike, and should it contain no 

 eggs of their own it is frequently deserted. But another 

 expedient to rid themselves of the incumbrance is sometimes 



