On the Silky Coze-Bird.



137



The Chiffcliaff (. Phylloscopus rufus ) is another of our small

Summer migrants who favours such a nesting place as that

chosen by the last-named bird. He is one of our earliest

visitors, and one of the commonest of the Warblers ; ye.t how

few nests of this bird one conies across in proportion to the

number of the species to be heard on all sides uttering their

monotonous monosyllabic note throughout the day! I fear,

however, that these notes of mine are being strained to such a

length that they will be even less acceptable to my fellow

members. I will therefore end them with a few words respecting

my illustration (Fig. 2) of the eggs of the Nightjar ( Caprimulgus

europoeus). This photograph was obtained in a clearing in a

small copse on some high ground in North Hants. This bird,

with its protective colouring, soft owl-like flight, and curious

jarring note, which is heard repeatedly at dusk, is a most elusive

quest, as I have often proved, when, seeming to hear his notes

quite near me, I have spent the best part of an evening in vainly

trying to get a sight of their producer.



THE SILKY COW-BIRD.


Molothrus bonariensis.


By W. T. Page, F.Z.S.


This species is also known as the Silky Cow-Bunting, but

it is closely related to the Meadow-Starlings, and has nothing in

common with the Buntings ; it resembles the Cuckoos in their

parasitical habits, but differs from our Cuckoo, in that it lays

several eggs in the same nest, and after doing so sometimes

smashes and devours the whole. Its Starling characteristics are

readily noticed, even without very close observation, as they are so

striking ; in a moderate sized aviary, their method of progression

on the ground, flight, clinging to holes in walls, method of enter¬

ing a log nest, or closed nest box with only hole for entrance, is

almost identical with that of our Starling, and while their song

is not the same, their notes have much the same screechy

character, and do not possess, as far as my observations go, one

single characteristic that may be described as Bunting-like.



