496 COW-PEN BIRD. 



Towards the end of September, the old and young Cow Birds con- 

 gregate in vast numbers, and are seen wending their way southward, 

 sometimes by themselves, more frequently intermingled with other spe- 

 cies such as the Purple Grakles and the Redwings, which they join in 

 their plundering expeditions. They are to be seen in the Middle States 

 until near the end of October, although unusually severe weather some- 

 times forces them southward at an earher period. 



This species derives its name from the circumstance of its frequent- 

 ing cow-pens. In this respect it greatly resembles the European Star- 

 lino-. Like that bird it follows the cattle in the fields, often alights on 

 their backs, and may be seen diUgently searching for worms and larvae 

 among their dung. In spring, the cattle in many parts of the United 

 States are much infested with intestinal worms, which they pass in great 

 quantities, and on these the Cow-bird frequently makes a delicious repast. 

 It has no song properly so called, but utters a low muttering sort of 

 chuckle, in performing which, it is seen to swell out its throat, and move 

 the feathers there in succession, in a manner very much resembling that 

 of the European Starling. 



IcTEETJs PECORis, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 5S. 

 Stcrnus Junceti, Lath. Ind. Omitli. vol. i. p. 326. Male. 



Fbingili-a pecohis, Gmel. Syst. vol. i. p. Q\0.—Lath. Ind. Omith. vol. i. p. 443. 

 Cow-BuNTiKG, Emberiza pecoris, Wils. Amer. Omith. vol. ii. p. 145. PL IS. fig. 1. 

 Male, fig. 2. Female, fig. 3. Young. 



Adult Male. Plate XCIX. Fig. 1. 



Bill conical, robust, very acute, compressed towards the end ; upper 

 mandible obtuse above, rounded on the sides, encroaching a little on the 

 forehead with an angle, the margins acute and overlapping ; lower man- 

 dible with the sides inflected ; gap-line much deflected at the base. Nos- 

 trils basal, lateral, oval, covered above by a membrane. Head of ordi- 

 nary size. Neck rather short. Body rather robust. Feet of ordinary 

 length ; tarsus compressed, acute behind, anteriorly covered with seven 

 longish scuteUa ; toes free, scuteUate, lateral ones nearly equal ; claws 

 arched, compressed, acute. 



Plumage blended, glossy. Wings longish, curved, somewhat round- 

 ed, the second quill longest. Tail shortish, rounded, a little emarginate, 

 of twelve straight, rounded feathers. 



