CODES ON BIRDS OF DAKOTA AND MONTANA. 



601 



known very few of those that breed within the Cowbird's summer range 

 will be found to be passed over — among those whose eggs are not con- 

 siderably larger than its own. and whose nests are accessible to the 

 vagrant. 



Although, as I have said, the Cowbirds are distributed over tbe whole 

 country, yet they focus in and about the settlements; and by tbe same 

 token they seem to follow the travelling parties and camp with them. 

 The same is the case in all other parts of the West where I have observed 

 the bird. They are like the small wolves (coyot6s) in this respect. Being 

 rarely molested, they acquire a wonderful heedlessness, and ramble uncon- 

 cernedly through the camp under the feet of the horses and mules, and 

 almost under our own. In July and August particularly, when the year's 

 young are first on wing, gathering in small troops, they appear to have no 

 comprehension of danger whatever, and are occasionally punished with a 

 crack from the "black-snake" of some facetious teamster, — and, unlike 

 a mule, they are never of any use afterward. One was actually caught 

 by hand as it fluttered about a man's head, apparently intending to 

 alight upon what it may have supposed to be a peculiar mule. Some 

 time in August the birds become less numerous, apparently moving off 

 somewhere. There seems to be something not yet clearly understood in 

 their movements at this season. How long they actually remain in the 

 country I am unable to say. 



List of specimens. 



