December a2, 1893.] 



SCIENCE. 



347 



MOLOTHRUS ATER AND HiS HOSTESSES. 



Noticing the article by Charles W. Hargitt, Ph. D. , 

 in Science for Dec. i, in regard to the cowbird, I am 

 prompted to relate my experience, since what seems to 

 be with him a rare occurrence, is, in my locality at 

 least, a very common one. I refer to the appropria- 

 tion of the chipping sparrow's nest by this parasite as a 

 receptacle for its eggs. 



It has been my experience with the chipping spar- 

 row, as it has Mr. Hargitt's, that it is exceedingly sen- 

 sitive about having its nest disturbed, and will desert 

 it upon the least provocation, even though the full com- 

 plement of eggs may have been deposited. It has 

 seemed to me sometimes that merely a sudden discovery 

 of the nest, with the bird upon it, was all the ground 

 the bird needed as a cause for a hasty removal from 

 those parts, even though not a twig or portion of the 

 tree or bush be touched. This I have particularly no- 

 ticed, and as I have been making this species a special 

 study the past Summer, I have had occasion to note 

 many times the exceeding sensitiveness of the bird 

 in this regard. 



But much as Spizella socialis dislikes to have her nest 

 disturbed, my observations have been to the effect that 

 her likes and dislikes are not at all regarded by the cow- 

 bird. The evidence which my observations have pro- 

 duced along this line is quite to the contrary of that 

 which Mr. Hargitt's observations find. I well remem- 

 ber that the first egg of the cowbird ever found by my- 

 self, in those days of fond recollections when I first be- 

 gan the delightful pursuit now so dear to me, rested 

 snugly in a nest of the chipping sparrow. Since that time 

 I have never dreamed of this being a rare occurrence, 

 for I have so found them times without number ; and 

 in several instances have known the hostess so imposed 

 upon, contrary to her exceeding wariness of being dis- 

 turbed, to accept the situation forced upon her and rear 

 the alien vagabond. I have also found that, in cases 

 where the cowbird found Spizella's nest to contain but 

 one egg of its owner, it will sometimes deposit more 

 than one of its own; in one case, I found three. In such 

 instances, the chipping sparrow, of course, does not ac- 

 cept the situation, — the sii-uation is doubtless too large 

 for such a small bird to accept. I can. only say in con- 

 clusion of this part of my subject that my observations 

 lead me in quite the opposite direction from Mr. Har- 

 gitt's conclusion, for I certainly have found Spizella 

 socialis a very commonly imposed-upon hostess of the 

 cowbird. 



I have at different times found eggs of Molothrus in 

 what seemed to me to be out-of-the-way places for 

 thein. Among these "out-of-the-way places" I would 

 mention the nests of the meadowlark, robin and king- 

 bird, for I have found them there, and apparently, no 

 attempts had been made to remove them from the nest, 

 for in the cases of the meadowlark and kingbird they 

 were equally advanced in incubation with the rightful 

 occupants. 



And now, if I may be pardoned for deviating some- 

 what from my subject, and since the chipping sparrow's 

 sensitive nature is before us for consideration, I would 

 like to ask for enlightenment from more experienced 

 heads than mine in regard to a matter that has puzzled 

 me. The past summer I found a nest of the chipping 

 sparrow containing four eggs. Meaning to test the 

 bird's sensitive nature in this case, I did not so much as 

 touch any portion of the evergreen tree containing the 

 nest, but hastily removed from the locality. Return- 

 ing two days later to learn if, perchance, the bird had 

 deigned to still occupy her well-hidden home, I found 

 that in place of the four eggs only two remained. Re- 



turning again the next day, I found but one egg in the 

 nest, and coming again the following day, I found an 

 empty nest. The eggs must have been removed from 

 the nest without being broken, for not a trace of an 

 egg-shell was anywhere about. 



This in and of itself would not necessarily be a very 

 remarkable occurrence, but this is only one instance. I 

 have several times observed the same things in cases 

 where a nest of the chipping sparrow had been discov- 

 ered containing eggs. 



Can the editor of Science or any of its readers offer 

 a solution of this problem? I should be interested to 

 hear. 



The chipping sparrow is well worthy the study of 

 everyone. Many excellent traits of character will be 

 discovered. Neil F. Posson. 



Batavia, N. Y. 



Protection of Birds from the Boys. 



In Science, Nov. lo. Dr. Shufeldt charges the "small 

 boys" with being the most destructive of all the agencies 

 that are operating to exterminate our beautiful and use- 

 ful birds. Teachers in urban schools who conscien- 

 tiously study the daily conduct of their pupils and 

 inquire of them as to their daily associations know that 

 the Doctor's statements are sadly near the truth. The 

 accusation would better be made without limitation in 

 the size of the bo)^s. In every city and town, and in 

 many villages, there is a considerable population living 

 in homes entirely destitute of humanizing influences. 

 The children of this class run at large, exercising their 

 brutal and vicious instincts, and the unlimited slaughter 

 of innocent birds is one of the results. 



The evil being defined and located, the remedy is 

 indicated. We look to the public schools for the re- 

 demption of Young America. The rapidly broadening 

 scope which is being permitted in the work of the 

 schools opens the way for a campaign of education. 



Several lines of attack will at once suggest them- 

 selves to teachers and others who are interested. Some 

 of these I will mention. 



1 . Punishment of the guilty under such laws as exist for 

 the protection of birds. No teacher is likely to use thii 

 means except in extreme cases. 



2. Teaching beautiful sentiments about birds and bird life. 

 This is good so far as it goes. Kindly feelings are 

 aroused and strengthened. But many hardened ones 

 refuse to be touched and seize the first opportunity to 

 show their defiance in a practical manner. At the best 

 this course gives little real knowledge of the birds and 

 the children remain strangers to them while they should 

 have most intimate daily acquaintance. The proper 

 place for such teaching is supplemental to the follow- 

 ing. 



3. Close, accurate, continued study of birds, their ways, and 

 their works. By this procedure the work is given an 

 intellectual basis. This method rests on a sound 

 psychological principle. Any student of birds who can 

 recall the impressions of his early studies knows that 

 every new perception of beauty and adaptation in the 

 structures of his specimens increased his regard for the 

 living forms and restrained him from needless destruc- 

 tion of their lives even for legitimate purposes of study. 

 The same key will open the way to the feelings of most 

 boys. The glittering plumage in the bush excites the 

 savage instinct to possess it. This interest is only 

 momentary, and when the coveted object has been 

 brought down by stone or shot it is soon flung aside. 

 It would be a hundred times better if the boy shot 

 birds to study them, but that is not necessary. Plenty 

 of material may be collected without intentionally 

 taking the life of a single bird, and we may hope to 



