ICTERID^ — THE AMERICAN ORIOLES. 811 



The Cowbird is a common species throughout the State. It is 

 resident southward, but only a summer sojourner in the northern 

 portions. It is at all seasons gregarious, associating in small flocks, 

 which follow the furrow made by the ploughman or keep company 

 with the cattle, often alighting upon their backs. The Cowbird 

 builds no nest, but lays its eggs surreptitiously in the nests of other 

 birds. In this it evinces no preference, except that a species smaller 

 than itself is usually selected, and never one very much its superior 

 in size ; usually a very much smaller bird is thus imposed on. It 

 makes no attempt, however, to select a species whose eggs more or 

 less resemble its oun, but drops its eggs indiscriminately in nests 

 whose owners lay white eggs, plain blue eggs, or speckled eggs. The 

 number of these parasitic eggs which may be found in one nest 

 varies from one to five, and it may be that, in some cases at least, all 

 are deposited by one bird, although it is equally probable that 

 sometimes the eggs of two or more individuals are dropped in the 

 same nest. It is interesting to watch the female when she is 

 searching for a nest in which to deposit the egg she is about to 

 lay. She hunts stealthily through the woods, usually among the 

 undergrowth, and when a nest is discovered, patiently awaits from 

 a convenient hiding place the temporary absence of the parent, when 

 the nest is stealtliily and hastily inspected, and if found suitable she 

 takes possession and deposits her egg, when she departs as quietly 

 as she came. The male Cowbird is polygamous, and becomes 

 quite amorous during the breeding season, parading before the 

 females with spread wings and tail, now and then swelling up until 

 he seems ready to burst ; but the looked-for catastrophe is prevented 

 by the emission of a ridiculous squeaking song, when he subsides to 

 his original proportions. 



Genus XANTHOCEPHALUS Bonaparte. 



Xanthocephalus Bonap. Conspectus, i, 1850, 431. Type, Icterus icterocephalus Bonap. 



"Gen. Chae. Bill conical, the length about twice the height; the outlines nearly 

 straight. Claws all very long; much curved; the inner lateral the longest, reaching 

 beyond the middle of the middle claw. Tail narrow, nearly even, the outer web scarcely 

 widening to the end. Wings long, much longer than the tail; the first quill longest." 

 (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



This genus differs from Agclaias in much longer and more curved 

 claws, and in having first or second quill longest, instead of the 

 longest being the second, third, or fourth. 



